.VESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTHAUAN BIRDS. 



495 



Coomooboolaroo. The nest was the ordinary kind, placed near the top 

 of a sapling. 1 mentioned, when dealing with the Chestnut-cared Finch, 

 that I had found a nest entirely built of the stalks of a flowering herb 

 fCfi/nrepliti/ui). I find Jiniongst Mr. Hermann Lau s MS. notes that 

 on one occasion lie found a nest of the Black-throated Finch constiiicted 

 outwardly of notiiing but everlasting flowers. The Black-thronted 

 Finch, according to trappers and dealers, is a hardy bird and readily 

 breeds in aviaries. 



According to the experience of the Messrs. Barnard, the Bandetl 

 Finch fref[uently lays seven eggs to a clutch, but usually five, and the 

 laying months are generally according to the season. 



407. POEPHII.A PEIiSONATA. Gould. (262) 



MASKED GRASS FINCH. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iii., pi. 91. 

 Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xiii., p. 377. 



Geographical Distrihiifioii. — North-west Australia, Northern Terri- 

 toiy and North Queensland. 



Nest and Egys. — Undescribed, but doubtless are similar to those of 

 the other Grass Finches. 



Observations. — Tliis beautiful Grass Finch is a native of Northern 

 Australia, where Gould states " several specimens were shot by Gilbert 

 during an excursion from Port Essington towards the interior of the 

 country, who states that it inhabits grassy meadows near streams, being 

 congregated in flocks of from twenty to fortv. When on the wing it 

 utters a very feeble ciy of ' twit-twit-twit,' but at other times pours 

 forth a drawn-out mournful note, like that of some of the other Grass 

 Finches. ' 



This Finch is frequently seen in the southern markets. It derives 

 its name, " Masked, ' from the black velvetv ring on the face surroimd- 

 ing its yellowish bill, the rest of the plumage being mostly light-brown. 

 The lower part of the abdomen is black, while the lower part of the rump, 

 upper and under tail coverts are white. Total length, 5i inches. 



Dr. Ramsay ha-s suggested that P. jjfrsnnatn and P. leucntis are 

 possibly identical, but Dr. C. E. Thorp, a keen Finch fancier, and who 

 has kept both kinds of birds in captivitv, writes. " thev appear to be 

 very distinct." So " Doctors " will differ. 



