. The Australian zoologist. Zoology; Zoology; Zoology. 264. FAIRY WRENS. By Ton Iredale. A very typical Australian bird-form may be seen in the common Blue Wren, a thing of such mar- vellous beauty, that the early English authors chris- tened it the Superb Warbler, a name too high sound- ing for the modest Australian. Yet it is much more appropriate than Blue Wren, a wretched misnomer for this fairy-like sprite of azure. Scandalmongers have condemned it as a Mormon, but its chastity and fidelity have been vindicated, and its sober home- life is now admitted. Fine feathers make fine birds, and
. The Australian zoologist. Zoology; Zoology; Zoology. 264. FAIRY WRENS. By Ton Iredale. A very typical Australian bird-form may be seen in the common Blue Wren, a thing of such mar- vellous beauty, that the early English authors chris- tened it the Superb Warbler, a name too high sound- ing for the modest Australian. Yet it is much more appropriate than Blue Wren, a wretched misnomer for this fairy-like sprite of azure. Scandalmongers have condemned it as a Mormon, but its chastity and fidelity have been vindicated, and its sober home- life is now admitted. Fine feathers make fine birds, and because the male did not wear these all the year round his reputation was assailed: it is now allowed that he puts on his fine clothes to please his mate while he is young, but when he has reached a re- spectable age he keeps them all the year round. This seems contrary to the usage of humans in the best society, but it may be due to the desire of the female sex, and such requests cannot be denied. Further, it was due to his very respectable habit of taking his family with him always that he got himself talked about; from a human point of view no good bird could do such a thing, and he was accused of gadding about with a lot of young females. However, as aforesaid, its moral life has been vindicated, and the theme of this essay is a sketch of its suggested ancestry and relations throughout the Australian Continent. When the bird-life of Australia and Tasmania is studied, a number of strange coincidences are met with, and when these are arranged in order certain facts stand out. From these facts deductions may be drawn, and by means of these deductions dim views of past ages may be seen darkly. Probably never will the past read clearly, so that any data and hypotheses therefrom are useful. The "Blue Wrens" taken as a group will provide a series of facts from which we can suggest and theorise, and possibly these suggestions may prove of assistance to workers in other cl
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1914
