_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
HYLACOLA PYRRHOPYGIA.
Red-rumped Wren.
_Acanthiza pyrrhopygia_, Vig. & Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p.
227.
In some parts of its economy this bird closely resembles the _Maluri_
particularly in the upright position in which it carries its tail, in
the quick hopping motion with which it passes over the surface of the
ground, and the agility with which it trips along the horizontal
branches of the fallen trees. The situations most favourable to its
habits are open sterile spots, here and there studded with clumps of
brushes or dense herbage. The beds and sides of creeks, as well as the
crowns of stony hills, wherever they are scrubby, are also situations
favourable to its habits. I have always observed it either in pairs or
in small companies, probably the brood of a single pair, whose young
accompany them throughout the autumn like the _Maluri_.
Its song, which is by no means disagreeable, is poured forth while the
bird is perched upon some conspicuous part of a bush, or some little
spray among the branches of the large fallen trees, where it loves to
dwell, as on the approach of an intruder it can readily and effectually
secrete itself among the high grass and herbage which have grown up
amidst the branches. The facility with which it creeps among or threads
these little thickets is surprising. It rarely flies, but depends for
progression more upon the rapidity with which it can pass over the
ground, than upon the feeble powers of its small rounded wing.
This species may be regarded as a bird whose natural habitat is the
interior rather than the country near the coast; for although it does
occur in some districts of New South Wales on the sea side of the
dividing range, it is much more abundant on the northern or interior
side in all situations favourable to its existence. I found it on the
low bills to the north of the Liverpool Plains, as well as in most parts
of South Australia; I believe it is a stationary bird, as it appeared to
be equally numerous in summer and winter.
Of its nidification I have nothing to communicate, its nest not having
been discovered either by myself or by any of my party.
Its food consists of insects of various kinds, and like many
insectivorous birds, I believe it seldom if ever drinks, not even during
the greatest droughts.
The sexes present no visible difference in their plumage.
Crown of the head, all the upper surface, wings and tail brown; lower
part of the rump and upper tail-coverts chestnut-red; all but the two
centre tail-feathers crossed near the tip with a broad band of black,
beyond which the tips are greyish white; line over the eye and all the
under surface greyish white, each feather of the latter with a line of
black down the centre, except on the middle of the abdomen bill dark
brown; irides buffy white; legs flesh-brown.
The figures are of the natural size.
[Illustration:
HYLACOLA CAUTA: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
HYLACOLA CAUTA, _Gould_.
Cautious Wren.
_Hylacola cauta_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part X. p. 135.
The only locality in which I have seen this species is the great scrub
clothing the banks of the river Murray in South Australia, where it was
not uncommon, but so excessively shy that I obtained a single specimen
only during my stay in the district. Its timidity being so great, and
its natural habitat the more dense parts of the scrub, it is a species
which must for a long time be exceedingly scarce in our collections. The
individual killed was fired at within a few yards of where I stood, it
being impossible to sight it at a greater distance.
With the exception of its being even more shy, its whole habits and
economy appeared to be very similar to those of the preceding species
(_H. pyrrhopygia_). It carries its tail perfectly erect, and hops over
the ground and threads the bushes with the greatest alacrity; generally
keeping among the more dense parts of the low bushes, and only exposing
itself on the outermost twigs when desirous of pouring forth its song,
which is sweet and harmonious, and by which its presence is more
frequently detected than by any other means.
I could neither find the nest and eggs myself nor obtain any information
respecting them; but I have no doubt that when discovered the nest will
be found to be of a domed form, with a small hole for an entrance, and
the eggs very similar to those of the _Maluri_. In size the _H. cauta_
is rather less than the _H. pyrrhopygia_, has the markings of the under
surface much bolder, and the chestnut-coloured mark on the rump of a
much deeper tint.
Line from the base of the upper mandible along the side of the face and
over the eye white; above this a narrow line of black; crown of the head
and all the upper surface brown; upper and under tail-coverts bright
chestnut; wing-coverts brown, edged with brownish white; primaries
brown, with the outer web white at the base, forming a conspicuous spot
in the centre of the wing; tail blackish brown, tipped with white;
throat striated with black and white, produced by each feather being
black down the centre and fringed with white; flanks mottled brown and
white; abdomen white; hill dark brown; irides buffy white; feet
flesh-brown.
The figures are of the natural size.
[Illustration:
CYSTICOLA MAGNA: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
CYSTICOLA MAGNA, _Gould_.
_Cysticola campestris_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part XIII. p. 20.
I am indebted to the kindness of Hugh E. Strickland, Esq., for the loan
of a fine example of this bird for the purpose of figuring in the
present work. It is one of the largest species of the group, and hence I
have assigned to it the distinctive appellation of _magna_. Nothing
whatever is known of its habits and manners, but we may reasonably infer
that they are very similar to those of its congeners. The precise
locality it inhabits is also unknown; Mr. Strickland having obtained it
from a general collection of Australian birds, without the situation in
which it had been procured being attached to it.
Head rusty red; back and wing-coverts brownish grey; all the feathers of
the upper surface with a broad stripe of dark brown down the centre;
wings blackish brown, the primaries margined externally with rusty red
and the secondaries edged all round with brownish grey; tail reddish
brown, all but the two centre feathers with a large spot of black near
the tip; all the under surface pale buff.
The Plate represents the bird of the natural size.
[Illustration: