NESTS A.VD EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



499 



this species build in any other situation, wliich, although not excep- 

 tional, is very unusual for Finches. The birds only appear at intei-vals 

 during the wet season, or from December to March. 



411. — NEorHMiA PHAETON, Hombron and Jacquinot. — (256) 

 CRIMSON FINCH. 



Figure. — Goiild : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iii., pi. 83. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xiii., p. 389. 



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



Wales, vol. i., 2nd ser., p. 1148 (1886); North: Austn. Mus. 



Cat., app. (1890), also Trans. Roy. Soc, South .Australia, vol. 



xxii., p. 144 (iSc)8) ; Le Souef : Victorian Xamralist, vol. xvi., 



p. 6g (1899). 



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

 tory and Queensland ; also New Guinea. 



Next. — Tlie usual bottle-shaped structure, composed of dried, fre- 

 quently coarse, grasses, and lined inside with downy substance off grass 

 seeds, feathers, &c. Usually situated in a pandanus tree, low bush, or 

 in tall grass. Sometimes under the eaves of buildings. 



Etff/s. — Clutch, foiu- to eight, usually six ; vary in form from oval 

 to lengthened oval ; texture of shell very fine ; surface slightly glossy ; 

 colour, pure white. Dimensions in inches of a clutch: (1) '66 x '45, 

 (2) -64 X -45. (3) -64 x -44, (4) -63 x -46. 



Ohs:frv(iiinns. — -Tliis is one of the beauties, whether of the field or 

 of the aviary, and it is known to dealers as the Pheasant Finch on 

 accoimt of its graceful shape, as well as the beautiful colouring of the 

 feathers. The male bird is generally of a crimson coloirr, with a 

 brownish tinge on the top of the head and wings, while upon the sides 

 there are a few white specks. Length, 5| inches, including '2-,' inches 

 for a somewhat lengthened tail. Tlic female is rather smaller than 

 the male and not so gaily dressed. 



The Crimson Finch is found in the north part of the Continent, its 

 southern limit on the cast coast being about Rockhampton district. 



I met with these beautiful Finches, but not all in mature plumage, 

 in Northern Queensland, where I observed them feeding in grassy 

 glades of the forest, and when flushed they invariably took to the low 

 trees. However, I did not succeed in finding a nest, so I shall give 

 Dr. Ramsay's remarks : — " The eggs here described were taken by 

 Mr. J. Rainbird in 1864, from some of the nests at that time common 

 on extensive grass lands near Port Denison. Tlie nest is like all others 

 of the family — a flask-shaped structure of grasses with a long narrow 

 entrance placed on its side in a convenient place either in pandanus 

 trees or adjacent shrubs, or among the stronger of the grass stems. 



