MALURUS ELEGAN Ss, Gould.
Graceful Wren.

Malurus elegans, Gould, Birds of Australia, Part I. Aug. 1837.
Djur-jeel-ya, Aborigines of the lowland districts of Western Australia.

 

Tuts is not only the largest species of the genus yet discovered, but may be considered as one of the most
beautiful and elegant of its race: the delicate verditer-blue of the centre of the back, and the larger size and
more spatulate form of its tail-feathers, at once distinguish it from MWalurus Lamberti, the species to which it
is most nearly allied. It is an inhabitant of the western coast of Australia; all the specimens I possess were
collected at Swan River, where it is tolerably abundant. Mr. Gilbert states, that although in its economy
it very closely resembles JZ. splendens, it nevertheless differs from that species in the nature of the localities
it frequents, which are usually swampy situations, while JZ splendens is more generally spread over all parts
of the country. It is also said to differ slightly in its song, in commencing with one distinct note and then
singing precisely like the former.

The nest, which is neither characterized by neatness nor compactness, is dome-shaped, with a hole in the
side for an entrance, and is generally formed of the thin paper-like bark of the Tea-tree (Melaleuca), and
lined with feathers: it is also usually suspended to the foliage of this tree, and occasionally to that of other
shrubs which grow in its favourite localities. The eggs are four in number, of a delicate flesh-white
freckled with spots of reddish brown, which are much thicker at the larger end; they are about eight

lines long and six limes broad. The breeding-season commences in September and continues during the
three following months.

The food consists of insects.

The males are subject to the same law relative to the seasonal change of plumage as the Walurus cyaneus,
and the other members of the group.

The male has the forehead, ear-coverts, sides of the face and occiput rich verditer-blue ; centre of the
back light verditer-blue ; scapularies chestnut; throat, chest, back of the neck and rump deep velvety
black, the throat m certain lights tinged with blue; wings brown; abdomen and under tail-coverts buffy
white ; tail dull bluish-green, crossed by numerous indistinct bars, seen only in some positions, and very
slightly tipped with white ; bill black; eyes and feet blackish brown.

The female has all the upper surface and wings brown; throat and under surface buff-white ; tail as in
the male, but more dull, and devoid of the white at the extremity of the feathers ; bill dull reddish brown,
lighter beneath ; space between the bill and eyes reddish brown ; legs brown.

The figures are of the natural size, on the Jsopogon alternatus.