^88 XESTS AXD EGGS OF AVSTKALIAN BIRDS. 



Concerning the Chestnut-breasted Finch, Dr. Ramsay states: — 

 " Tlus sjjecies is widely distributed over the whole of the northern parts 

 of New South Wales and Queensland. It breeds plentifully in the 

 extensive ga-ass beds of tlie Clarence and Richmond River districts, 

 also at Maryborough, Queensland. The nest is a lai-ge structure, in 

 shape like a flask or bottle placed on its side, and the entrance, which 

 is about an inch and a-half wide, is situated at the end of the neck, 

 the whole being about fourteen inches in length by .six inches in 

 diameter at its widest part. It is usually built near the top of some 

 bushy shnib, or in tangled masses of vines, and composed of grasses 

 and the leaves of reeds with fine stems of plants (Goodenia or Lobelia, 

 according to the district the owner frequents), being lined with finer 

 materials — the downy tops of reeds and flags, and occasionally a few 

 feathers. It closely resembles the nest of Neochinid phtittan (Crimson 

 Finch), which I received from Port Denison, and, like that, is often 

 foimd placed among the stiff leaves of a grass-like plant gi-owing upon 

 the sides of the trees in and about the edges of the scrubs." 



With regard to the distribution of this species, Mr. K. Broadbent 

 says; — " Donacohi cfisliiueithurax, the Chestnut-breasted Finch, com- 

 monly called the Bullfinch or ' Bully,' is plentiful on the Bellenden 

 plains about the latter part of the year. It may be of interest to 

 note that I saw a flock of these Finches at Chester's Point, on Thursday 

 Island, during one of my visits to that place, though I have not met 

 with them on the immediate mainland of Cape York Peninsula." 



Tlie eggs of the Chestnut-breasted Finch in my collection were 

 taken from nests near the giound situated in so-called " blady " grass, 

 one set of five being foimd by Mr. Percy Young, at Maryborough, 

 Queensland, 28th January, 1898, another set of six eggs being taken by 

 my son Archie in the Richmond River district. New South Wales, on 

 the 17th of the same month. In Northern Queensland full clutches 

 have been taken in Apiil. 



400. MUNIA FLAVIPRYMMA, Gould. (267) 



YELLOW-RUMPED FINCH. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iii., pi. g6. 

 Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xiii., p. 345. 



Geographical Distribution. — Northern Territory. 



Nest and Egg>i. — Undescribed. 



Observations. — A single specimen of this extremely i-arc northern 

 Finch was presented to Gould by the late Dr. Bynoe, who, it is stated, 

 procured it on the Victoria River dming the surveying cruise of 

 H.M.S. "Beagle," 1839. Since that date there is positively nothing to 

 record of its economy. 



