^86 NESTS AND EGGS UF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Observations. — I had an opportuuity of witnessing this modest little 

 Finch, which is generally called the Double Banded, at home in 

 Central Queensland, one of its chief habitats. 



The bird is somewhat difficult to accurately describe, but may be 

 summed up thus ; — Crown of head and back brownisli in coloiu", each 

 feather beautifully pencilled with a darker shade. The wings are 

 delicately freckled with grey ; rump white ; under surface light coloured 

 crossed by two narrow bands (hence the name Double-bandcd Finch of 

 the ti-apper), one on the throat and the other on the breast ; eyes dark 

 and bill light bluish hue. 



Gould regretted he was not fortunate enough to obtain its nest or 

 eggs, and it was not till 1883 that I received and described specimens 

 of eggs kindly forwarded by the late Mr. George Barnard, of 

 Coomooboolaroo. 



In the Chincliilla district, Mr. K. Broadbent records finding a nest 

 of this Finch containing young birds 11th May, 1885. Eggs have also 

 been taken in March and April and from June to August. 



398. — Stictoptera annulosa, Gould.- — (252) 

 RINGED FINCH. 



Figure. — Gould : Buds of Australia, fol., vol. iii., pi. 8i. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xiii., p. 314. 



Previous Descriptions oj Eggs. — North: Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S. Wales, 



vol. iii., 2nd ser., p. 146 (188S); North: Trans. Roy. Soc, 



South Australia, vol. xxii., p. 143 (189S). 



Gtoyrapliical DUtri.hutinn.- — North-west Atistralia and Northern 

 Territory. 



Nest. — The usual bottle-shaped structure of dried grasses, lined witji 

 finer grass, and situated in a low bush. 



Eggs.- — Clutch, four to six ; inclined to oval in form ; texture of 

 shell fine ; surface without gloss ; colour, white, vrith the faintest bluish 

 tinge. Dimensions in inches of a proper clutch: (1) -59 x '42, 

 (2) -57 X -42 (3) -57 x -41, (4) -5 x -42. 



Observations. — Touching this mteresting northern Finch, in the 

 " Proceedings of the Linnjean Society of New irfouth Wales, " Mr. North 

 states : — " This pretty Uttle Finch is found frequenting the northern 

 and north-western portions of the Australian Continent, where it takes 

 the place of its near ally, <S'. bichenovii of the eastern coast. Both 

 Mr. E. J. Cairn and the late Mr. T. H. Bowyer-Bower obtained a 

 nimiber of specimens of tliis bird in 1886 at Derby, North-wcsteni 

 AustraUa. For the opportunity of describing the eggs I am indebted 

 to the Hon. Wilham Macleay, who has lately received them from one 

 of his collectors ; they were taken near the head of the Leonard River, 

 North-western Australia, on the 2nd October, 1887.' 



