MAIL, urn ITS M lQ l fM l I . Vy.-e&fforjf.-
MALURUS BROWNII , Vig. and Horsf.
Brown’s Wren.
Malurus Brownii, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 223.
Malurus cruentatus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VII. p. 143.
Among the species o f 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 spécifie name of
cruentatus ; upon comparison, however, o f 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 o f 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 o f 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 o f its being common at Port Essington ; and, as I have above stated, it
is an inhabitant o f the eastern and north-western coasts ; we may consequently conclude that its range
extends over the whole of the northern parts o f 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 ; hill and feet light brown.
The Plate represents a male and female, on the Bceckia linifolia.