A£:srs A.VD EGGS OF AUSTKAUAN BtKDS. j^g,, 



401. MUNIA PECTORALIS, Gould. — (llGG) 



WHITE-BREASTED FINCH. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. lii., pi. 95. 

 Reference. — Cai, Uirds Brit. Mas., vol. xiii., p. 354. 



Geographical Distrihutio/i.—Hovth-v/iiat Australia, Northern Terri- 

 tory and North Queensland. 



Nest and E(J(jk. — Sou Appeiidi.x. 



Observations. — For the two original specinieiis of tiiis Finch Gould 

 was indebted to Mr. C. Bring, then of H.M.S. " Beagle, " who procm-ed 

 the new birds on the north-west coast. No notes of their habits or 

 economy accompanied the skins, nor have any particulars respecting the 

 species been published up to the present day, except the brief remai-ks 

 by Messx's. North and Keartlaud on the " List of Birds " collected by 

 the Calvert Expedition (1896-7) lo the north-west, where this Finch 

 waa only seen between the Telegraph Station and the Mai-garet River. 

 It proved very shy, and although frequently disturbed whilst feeding 

 amongst the long gi'ass, or seen flying from tree to tree, only two or 

 tlu'ee were shot. 



402.— AlDEMOSYNE MODESTA, Gould. (255) 



PLUM-HEAD FINCH. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iii., pi. 85. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xiii., p. 368. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Gould .■ Birds of Australia (1848) ; 



also Handbook, vol. i., p. 414 (1865); Ramsay: Proc. Linn. 



Soc, N.S. Wales, vol. i., 2nd ser., p. 1147 (1886); North: 



Austn. Mus. Cat., p. 162 (r88g). 



Geographical Distribution. — South Queensland, New South Wales, 

 Victoria and South Australia. 



Nest. — Tlie usual bulky, bottle-shaped appearance ; composed of 

 grasses and lined inside with feathers. Generally placed in a low bush, 

 but sometimes in tall gi'ass. 



A'.'/.'/"''- — Clutch, five to six ; oval, or stout oval in shape ; texture of 

 shell tine ; surface slightly glossy ; colour pure white. Dimensions in 

 inches of a proper clutch: (1) -67 x -49, (2) -66 x -48, (3) -65 x -47, 

 (4) -65 X -46, (5) -64 x -46. 



