MALURUS BROWNII, Vig. & Horsf.
Brown’s Wren.
Malurus Brownii, Vig. & Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 223.
Malurus cruentatus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VII. p. 143.
Among the species of which I sent home characters from New South Wales, for publication in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society, was the present pretty bird, to which I gave the specific name of cruentatus; upon comparison, however, of my specimens with the Malurus Brownii in the Linnean Society’s Collection, I find they are identical, consequently my name must sink into a synonym. Mr. Brown, who was the donor of the Linnean Society’s specimen, obtained his bird near Broad Sound, on the eastern coast; while those from which my description was taken were procured on the north-west, and formed part of the collection placed at my disposal by the officers of the Beagle. It differs from Malurus melanocephalus in the more intense and deep blood-red of the back, and, as Messrs. Vigors and Horsfield justly observe, it is much less in size.
Of its habits and economy, or the situations to which it gives preference, no information has yet been obtained; but we may reasonably suppose, that two species so nearly resembling each other in structure and colour as M. Brownii and M. melanocephalus do not greatly differ in their habits.
I have lately received an account of its being common at Port Essington; and, as I have above stated, it is an inhabitant of the eastern and north-western coasts; we may consequently conclude that its range extends over the whole of the northern parts of the Australian continent.
The male in summer has the head, neck, wings, all the under surface and tail black; primaries and secondaries brown; back and shoulders fine crimson; bill black; legs fleshy brown.
The female is uniform light brown, the abdomen inclining to white; bill and feet light brown.
The Plate represents a male and female, on the Bæckia linifolia.