HYLACOLA CAUTA, Gould.
Cautious Wren.
Hylacola cauta, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part X. p. 135.
T he 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 o f 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 ( / / . 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
o f the low bushes, and only exposing itself on the outermost twigs when desirous o f 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 o f a domed form,- with a small hole for an entrance,
and the eggs very similar to those o f the Maluri. In size the H. cauta is rather less than the H. pyrrhopygia,
has the markings o f the under surface much bolder, and the chestnut-coloured mark on the rump o f 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 aud 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; bill dark brown ; irides huffy white ;
feet flesh-brown.
The figures are of the natural size.