THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



289 



THE FINCHES. 



The followincy is an enumeration of the genera and 

 species more usually imported : — 



Family — Ploceidce. 

 Genus — 

 1. Estrelda. 



2. Amadina. 



3. Paephila. 



4. Donacola. 



E. riificaiida. 

 E. pJiacton. 

 E. bichcnovi. 

 E. temporalis. 

 E. bella. 

 A. Diodesta. 

 A. cnstanotis. 



A. lathami. 



A. gouldi(E. 



A. inirahilis. 



P. cineta. 

 D. castaueo- 

 tJiorax. 



Red-tailed Finch. 

 Crimson Finch. 

 Bicheno's Finch. 

 Australian Waxbill. 

 Beautiful Finch. 

 Modest Grass Finch. 

 Chestnut- eared, or 



Zebra Finch. 

 Side-spotted Finch, or 



Diamond Sparrow. 

 Black-faced Gouldian 



Finch. 

 Red-faced Gouldian 



Finch. 

 Parson Finch. 

 Chestnut-breasted 



Finch. 



Diamond Sparrow. — These lively birds are well known 

 as inmates of the cage and aviary in Britain, and are 

 about the size of a plump redpoll. Grey above, and white 

 beneath ; the sides are black, spotted with numerous white 

 spots ; a black band crosses the breast, and the rump is red. 



The sexes are alike. The food ia confinement, in which 

 these birds do well, is millet and canary seed. The nest is 

 made of grass, and placed in a low bush ; it is domed, and 

 lined with feathers. The white eggs are four in number. 



Zebra Finch, or Sparrow. — A smaller bird than the 



