MALURUS PULCHERRIMUS, Gould.
Beautiful Wren.
Malurus pulcherrimus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part XII. p. 106.
A more beautiful bird than the present species, which must be regarded as the representative in Western Australia of the Malurus Lamberti, can scarcely be imagined. It is moreover an evidence that this hitherto unexplored portion of the country is not less rich in interesting productions than are those parts which have been much longer known to us.
The Malurus pulcherrimus is very nearly allied to the M. Lamberti, but is of a larger size, and also differs from that species in having the throat and breast of a rich deep blue instead of black.
For a knowledge of this species I am indebted to the researches of Mr. Gilbert, who informs me that “it appears to be exclusively confined to the thickets of the interior of Western Australia; in habits and manners it greatly resembles the other members of the genus, but its nest is somewhat smaller than that of either of them. A nest found on the 28th of October, in the vicinity of the Wongan Hills, was placed on the upper branches of a species of Hakea about four feet from the ground; it contained two newly-laid eggs, which resembled those of the other species of the genus, but had the blotches very much larger.”
Crown of the head and a broad band across the centre of the back rich glossy violet-blue; space surrounding the eye and the ear-coverts verditer-blue; throat intense indigo-blue, bounded below by an indistinct band of black; lores, collar surrounding the back of the neck, and the lower part of the back, deep velvety black; scapularies chestnut; wings brown; tail dull greenish blue, indistinctly barred with a darker tint and slightly tipped with white; abdomen and under tail-coverts white; bill and feet black; irides dark brown.
The figures represent two males and a female of the natural size.