4q8 nests and eggs of av ST kali an birds. 



Total length, 5J inches. Altliotigh adult birds may appear with black 

 heads, others witli scarlet, the l)lacks have been observed to moult into 

 the scarlets. 



Our older ornithological authorities held to the two varieties (the 

 Black-headed phase and the Yellow or Red-headed phase) of this most 

 lovely Finch. But observations in our aviaries, where the birds freely 

 breed, have forced a conviction that the varieties are one and the same 

 species. The note on the subject of the breeding of these Finches, 

 mentioned by Mr. North as ha\dng been read at a meeting of the 

 Lmnpean Society of New South Wales (March, 1889), may be cited as 

 proof : — " It may be interesting to know that several of the Gouldian 

 Finches have bred in Dr. Ramsay's aviary at the Museum. A pair, 

 male and female, of the Black-headed phase, hatched out on May 13th 

 la^t three young ones, one of which, although having a dull-coloured 

 breast, has developed the crimson head of P. mirahiUs. There can be 

 no doubt whatever that P. f/uii/dicF, the Black-headed phase, and 

 P. arinitiatta, the Yellow-headed phase, are merely varieties of 

 P. mirahilis oiiginally described by Hombron and Jacquinot in the 

 ' Voy. au Pole Sud.' Many specimens recently brought to Sydney 

 show various stages of plumage above mentioned, bearing out 

 Dr. Ramsay's previous statement respecting the various phases of 

 phmiage exhibited in this species." 



The Black-headed phase of this Finch was discovered by Gilbert 

 on Greenhill Island, at the head of Van Diemen Gulf, where, he stated : 

 " It inhabited the edges of the mangroves and thickets ; when distiu^bed 

 it invariably flew to the topmost branches of the loftiest gums, a habit 

 I have not before obsei-ved in any other member of the genus. Its 

 note is a very mournful soiuid added to a double twit. Those I observed 

 were feeding among the high grass in small families of from four to 

 seven in number, and were very shy. Tlic stomach is tolerably mus- 

 cular, and the food consists of grass and other seeds.' 



Gould, while believing the Black-headed bird to be new, somewhat 

 pathetically states; — "It was with feelings of the purest affection that 

 I ventured in the folio edition to dedicate this lovely bird to the memory 

 of my late vrife, who for many years laboriously assisted me with her 

 pencil, accompanied me to AustraUa, and cheerfully interested herself 

 in all my pursuits." 



However, the scientific name, f/ouJfliee, is likely to sink as a synonym 

 in favour of mirahilis, though on the vernacular list we may fitly call 

 the bird the Gouldian Grass Finch. 



Tliere is a singular fact in connection with the voung birds that 

 has not yet been recorded bv other observers — tliat is, a protuberance 

 upon the gape which (when the youngster is in a dark part of the aviary) 

 reflects the light and shines vrith an opal-like brilliancy. Why nature 

 has endowed the yovmg birds with such Ivistrous mouth-pieces has not 

 yet been determined. 



Mrs. Clarke, Maryvalc. about one hundred miles inland from 

 Townsvllle, informs me she observed six or eight nests of the Gouldian 

 Finch built in the hollow spouts of trees. In fact, she has never seen 



