.q6 nests and eggs of AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



408. — PoEPHiLA LEUcoTis, Gould. (263) 



WHITE-EARED GRASS FINCH. 



Figure.— Go\i\A : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iii., pi. 92. 

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



Geograjjhical Dutrihution. — North-west Australia (probably), Nor- 

 theni TeiTitoiy and North Queensland. 



Xexf and Eggs. — Undescribed, but doubtless resemble those of the 

 other members of the genus. 



Observations. — This beautiful and veiy distinct Grass Finch was 

 discovered diuing Leichhardt's wonderful expedition from Moreton Bay 

 to Port Essington, and wa« shot by Gilbert near the Lynd River, .3rd 

 June (the month he was killed), 1845. 



409. POEPHILA ATROPYGI.\LIS, DigglcS.* 



BLACK-RUMPED GRASS FINCH. 



Reference. — Queensland Phil. Soc, vol. ii., p. 4 (1878). 

 Previous Description of Eggs. — Ramsay : Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S. 

 Wales, vol. ii., p. in (1878). 



Geographical Distrihution. — Northern Territory and Northern 

 Queensland. 



Nest. — Similar to those of the other Grass Finches, and situated in 

 tall grass, a low bush, or sometimes among the spirally-placed haa-d 

 leaves of a pandanus tree. 



Eggs. — Ckitch, four to six ; roinidish in shape ; texture of shell very 

 fine ; surface slight trace of gloss ; coloiu-, white (with a faint greenish 



' Mr. E. Hartert described in the "Ibis " last October (1899) a supposed new 

 Grass Finch, naming it Poephila nigiotccta, collected at Cape York by Mr. A. S. 

 Meek, resembling the Black-throated Grass Finch (P. cincta). but smaller and having 

 the upper tail coverts black instead of pure white The description answers to 

 Diggles's P. atropysinlis, which, it should be stated in justice to Mr. Hartert, appears 

 to be shrouded in mystery because of its somewhat obscure reference. 



On the 4th August, 1876. the late Mr Diggles read a paper before the Philoso- 

 phical Society of Queensland on "Some Ne.v and Rare Australian Birds," which 

 was mentioned in the Report of the Council for that year. The name Poephila 

 atropygialis is again recorded on page 4, vol. ii. (1878) of the Transactions of the 

 Society, while Dr. Ramsay also uses the name in his " Tabular List ' (Proc Linn. 

 Soc, N-S. Wales, vol, ii. 1877. p. 187). A skin of P atropygialis has been in the 

 Australian Museum collection for years, and recently the collection of Mr. D. 

 Le Souef was enriched with a pair of these Black-rumped Finches together with 

 their eggs taken by Mr. R. Hislop, in Northern Queensland, 9th June. i8gg. 



