The female has the lores and circle surrounding the eye reddish brown; all the upper surface brown; under surface brownish white; wings brown; tail green, each feather slightly tipped with white; bill reddish brown; feet brown.
The male in winter has the bill black, like the M. cyaneus.
The figure is that of a male and female of the natural size.
MALURUS SPLENDENS.
J. & E. Gould delt. C. Hullmandel Imp.
MALURUS SPLENDENS.
Banded Wren.
Saxicola splendens, Quoy et Gaim., Voy. de l’Astrol., Zool., tom. i. p. 197. pl. 10. fig. 1.
Malurus pectoralis, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part I. p. 106.
Djur-jeel-ya of the Aborigines of the lowland, and Jeer-jal of the Aborigines of the mountain districts of Western Australia.
This species may very justly be considered as more gorgeous and resplendent than any other of its race, its whole plumage sparkling with beautiful shining metallic lustres, beyond the power of our pencil to imitate in a drawing. At the time I gave a description of this little beauty in 1837, I was totally unaware that it had been previously published in France, and I am gratified that an opportunity is now afforded me to correct my error, and to figure it under the very appropriate specific title conferred upon it by Messrs. Quoy and Gaimard.