NESTS AXD EGGS OF AV ST RATI AN BIRDS. 



493 



North described in the Records of the Australian Museum two eggs 

 received from Dr. Henry Sinclair. It is also mentioned that a small 

 llock of tlicsc Finches wa.s seen, and a iikiI(> specimen jirocured. (hiring 

 tiie winter of 1891 near Lithgow, in the Blue Mountains. Surely these 

 favourite Finches were far south of their usual habitat, or perhaps 

 tiiey had esc<aped from a caged consignment. 



Mr. Keartland observed these pretty Finches at home in the north- 

 west. They were found in the vicinity of the telegi-aph line, near the 

 jimction of the Fitzroy and Margaret Rivers, where they appeared to 

 be pennanently located. Tliey were generally seen in small flocks. 

 A nest of this species, from which he shot the bird, was flask-shaped, 

 and built entirely of fresh, gi'een gi'ass, from which the colour had not 

 had time to fade. It contained five white eggs. 



405. POEPHILA ACUTICAUDA, Gould. (261) 



LONG-TAILED GRASS FINCH. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of .\ustralia, fol., vol. iii., pi. qo. 

 Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xiii., p. 375. 

 Previous Description of Eggs. — North : I'roc. I, inn. .Soc, N..'^. Wales, 

 vol. ii., 2nd ser., p. 408 (18S8). 



Geoff raplii en/ Disfrilnifinn. — North-west Australia and Northern 

 Territory. 



Nest. — Re.sembles that of P. rinrfa, flask-shaped ; composed of 

 grasses, and placed in long grass or low bush (North). 



Eggs. — Clutch, usually five ; somewhat lengthened in fonn ; coloiu-, 

 white. Dimensions in inches: (1) -71 x -48, (2) -69 x -46, (3) -68 x -48, 

 (4) -65 X -43, (5) -65 x -4. (North.) 



Ohaervntiniis. — Tlie Long-tailed Grass Finch is a rare aviary pet. 

 I saw several pairs in the Eastern Market, Melbourne, 1894, priced at 

 ten shillings each. The bird's tnie home is the Northern Territory 

 and Noilh-west Australia, where Gould, who first named it, says 

 that, like its analogue, the Black-throated Grass Finch (P. cinctaj, it 

 inhabits the open plains bordering streams, and feeds on the seeds of 

 various grasses and other plants. The Long-tailed Finch is delicately 

 plumaged, taking its name from the long central tail-feather. Crown 

 of the head and cheeks are grey ; upper and under .surface of the bodv 

 fawn-colour, becoming more delicate and assuming a pinkish tinge on 

 the abdomen. Commencing under the chin and expanding over the 

 throat is a shield of soft black. A band across the namp and tail 

 is also jet black, while the upper and under tail coverts are pure white, 

 the whole being rendered more beautiful by dark eyes surrounded by 

 reddish eyelashes, and waxy-yellow bill and feet to match. Including 



