482 NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Egff.<!. — Clutch, four to five ; inclined to oval in shape ; texture of 

 shell fine ; surface without gloss ; colour, wliite, with a faint bluish tinge. 

 Dimensions in inches of examples in Mr. G. A. Keartland's collection ; 

 (1) ■58X-45, (2) -57 X -4, (3) -56 x -4. 



Observations. — Tlie Fine Painted Finch was discovered in 1839 on 

 the north-west coast, a single example being procured by the late 

 Dr. Bynoe and presented to Gould. However, it was stolen, together 

 with some other valuable birds, from Gould's collection in 1846. 



Little or nothing was actually heard of this rare Finch (except that 

 its habitat was extended to South Australia on a published list of the 

 birds of that State by Mr. F. G. Watcrhousc. C.M.Z.S., 1876) till 1894, 

 when the Horn Expedition found it in Central Avistralia, where several 

 skins were obtained by Mr. G. A. Keartland, the ornithological collector 

 of the party, who states : — " These beautiful Finches were first found 

 in the rocky gorges of McMinn's Range, and subsequently at Stokes' 

 Pass, Glen of Palms, and Bagot's Spring. They are vei7 timid and 

 somewhat difficult to approach. Although there is no sexual difi^erence 

 in pkunagc, they vaiy Nvith age. The scarlet patch, so conspicuovis on 

 the breasts of adults, is almost or entirely absent on the yoiuig ones, 

 and the rich black on the under parts of the mature birds is also 

 replaced by a smoky black on the young. Several of their nests were 

 seen, which closely resembled those of Tnniopygia castanotis, but were 

 a trifle larger in size. They were placed on low bushes, built of grass, 

 and oval-shaped. Unforiunately they all contained young birds. The 

 eyes of the adults being white, give the live birds a remarkable 

 appearance." 



In the Australian Museum, Sydney, there are three examples of 

 birds obtained from a small flock of these Finches which suddenly 

 appeared at Campbelltown, New South Wales, in August or September, 

 1896. No doubt the drought drove them from their usual tracks. 



After the occiuTence of a good rainfall in the early part of 1898. 

 Mr. Tom Cai'ter infonns me Painted Finches appeared near the North- 

 west Cape. I had long suspected their presence in Western Australia, 

 because Mr. Frank Wittenoom reported to me having seen in the 

 Upper Murchison district " a red species of Finch," no doubt referable 

 to the bird at present tmder consideration. I also heard of similar 

 birds having been seen inland from Perth. 



Tliis rare Finch was procured by the Calvert Expedition (1896-7) 

 at Johanni Springs, where they came in company with the diestnut- 

 eared Finch to quench theii- thirst. Tliey were vei-y shy, and single 

 specimens were only prociu-ed, at the sacrifice of many of their 

 companions. The Painted Finch was afterwards seen near the hospital 

 at Derby, and when the steamer " Australind " was off Broome, five 

 Painted and two Chestnut-cared Finches perched in the rigging and 

 kept flving about the vessel for some time. They were never seen in 

 large flocks. 



