VESTS AXD EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 48 1 



Next. — Tlie usual bottle-shaped appearance, witii the entrance 

 through the neck slightly ascending before dropping into the egg 

 chamber or interior. The sti-ucturo is bulky, consisting chiefly of 

 grasses, and lined inside with brittle material and downy seed vessels ; 

 usually situated in paper-bark (Melaleuca) trees on the margin of a 

 stream or swamp, but sometimes placed in a banksia or other thick 

 bush. 



Eijijx. — Clutch, four to five ; inclined to oval in form ; texture of 

 shell fine; sm-face without gloss; colour, pure while. Dimensions in 

 inches: (1) -7 x •,'), (2) -7 x -48, (3) -68 x -48. 



Observations. — During my own travels in South-western Australia in 

 1889 I found this species fairly numerous, especially in the scrub 

 suiTounding swampy situations noai* the coast, as well as along creeks 

 in the forest. It is undoubtedly the western re])rcsentative and near 

 ally of the Fire-laiK'<l Finch (preceding species) of eastern parts 

 and Tasmania. Tlie red markings on the ramp and the beautiful 

 patch of feathers behind the eye are, however, vermilion rather than 

 scarlet ; the conical-shaped bill is bright veiinilion ; the gay markings 

 are enhanced by the sombre brownish-olive coat irregularly banded with 

 black ; the dark under surface is spotted largely with white. The eyes 

 are red, suiTounded with a narrow circle of a beautiful greenish-blue 

 skin. 



The Red-eared Finch, or the " Native Sparrow " of the colonists, 

 is exactly the same size as the Fire-tailed Finch fZ. helhis), and, like 

 that bird, builds its bulky nest generally amongst the uppermost 

 branches of a melalcuca or tea-tree overhanging a creek or even standing 

 in a swamp. These birds were nest-building in the Kamdale Forest 

 in October, and the first eggs I procured were taken on the 12th of 

 that month. Like its eastern ally, the breeding season of the Red-eared 

 Finch probably lasts till January. 



395.— Emblem.\ picta, Gould.— (268) 

 PAINTED FINCH. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iii., pi. 97. 

 Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xiii., p. 295. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs.— "^oixh : Report Horn .Scientific 

 Expedition, p. 88 (1896). 



Qeof/rnphiral Dixtrihiitinn. — West, North-west and South (Central) 

 Australia and New South Wales (accidental). 



Nest. — Resembles those of the other Finches, being bulky, bottle- 

 shaped, composed of dried grasses, and lined with feathers. Usually 

 situated in a low bush. 

 31 



