BY J. D. COX AND A. G. HAMILTON. 411 



guttata. A pair took possession of an old nest of these birds for 

 some days, but did not lay. 



82. ESTRILDA TEMPORALIS, Lath. 



Common on hills and rocky ground, but still rarer than E. 

 guttata. We have not personally taken eggs. Called " Red- 

 head." 



83. ESTRILDA MODESTA, Gld. 



Seen with E. guttata on a few occasions. 



84. ESTRILDA GUTTATA, Shaw. 



Very common. They breed all the year round. We have 

 taken a set of eggs from an old Pomatostomus nest, and have also 

 seen them build in hawks' nests. About Cullenbone they are very 

 tame, and build in a prickly cactus past which people are con- 

 tinually passing ; and also in a rose bush within a few feet of the 

 kitchen door. They sleep in the half-built nest. When washing 

 they wade into water. Locally known as " Diamond Sparrow." 



85. ESTRILDA CASTANOTIS, Gld. 



We are not sure whether this species was not introduced by 

 having escaped from captivity, but the birds breed in the immediate 

 vicinity of Mudgee in September and October. 



86. DONACICOLA CASTANEOTHORAX, Gld. 



Only one specimen shot. 



Besides the above finches, we once observed a small flock of red 

 finches feeding on grassland, but were unable to shoot for identifi- 

 cation. 



87. CiNCLOSOMA PUNCTATUM, Lath. 



Not uncommon on stony hill-sides. Eggs taken on August 20th 

 withlarge young ones in them. 



88. Ptilonorhynchus violaceus, Vieill.{ = P. holosericeus, Kuhl.) 

 One or two shot at Cooyal in a fruit garden. It has decided 



powers as a mimic. 



