dDfficial ©rgan oi the Jltiatraksian ©rntthologtsts' Enion. 



Birds of a fcatbcr.' 



Vol. VI.] 1ST OCTOBER, 1906. [Part 2. 



Field Notes on Birds of the Richmond District, 

 North Queensland. 



By Fredc. L. Berney. 

 Part III. 



{Continued from Vol. K, p. 78.) 



Chestnut-eared Finch {Tceniopygia c^j-Zci/wZ/j-).— During the eight or 

 nine years previous to 1906, 7'. castanotis has been our most constant 

 resident in the bird Hne, but this year, one of our best seasons on record, 

 when grass and herbage, and therefore, of course, seed, are in abundance, it 

 has entirely left the district, disappearing as soon as the first general rains 

 fell in January, and so far (August) it has not shown up again. The con- 

 tented manner in which it adapts itself to circumstances, together with its 

 fecundity, will long ensure its being among the survivors in the struggle for 

 existence. Its nesting operations are prolonged from June to January, but 

 are carried out principally from August to November. Among 30 or 40 

 records of nests with eggs or young, 1 have none for the months February 

 to May. A pair that built their nest among the rafters inside a boundary- 

 rider's hut, successfully led forth three broods in three and a half months. 

 Five or six eggs appear to be their clutch. A nest of seven was found to 

 include one much-addled &<g'g, which doubtless belonged to a previous 

 brood. As regards sites for their nests they are not particular. The 

 most favoured spots are the thorny mimosa bushes [Acacza far/icsiana), and 

 the lower portions of the nests of Eagles and Kites, but they will build in 

 bough-sheds or up in the rafters of huts or verandahs. They flock in June 

 and July. 



Banded Finch {Stictoptera bichenovii'). — This species only comes to us 

 in the worst of bad times, leaving again as soon as the drought breaks. I 

 do not think it ever nests here. 



Whitk-breasted Finch {Munia pectoralis).~i:h.h is an uncertain 

 visitor. One year or another I have seen them during all the four seasons, 

 but they generally pick the good times ; this year they are more plentiful 

 than I have ever seen them before. Though generally to be seen in twos 

 or threes, there are sometimes as many as 15 or 20 together. They in- 

 variably frequent the pea-bush {Sesdanm aculcafci) flats and other low-lying 

 spots, where the grass and herbage grow rather rank. Their note is a 

 simple " Chip, chip, chip." Mr. J. H. Smedley writes me that he has seen 

 them at Homestead, on the Campaspe, at times as many as 30 or 40 

 together, and that on one occasion (April, 1897) he found a nest containing 

 four eggs. 



Black-throated Grass-Finch {PoLpliila «>/(;/«).— This species was 

 only seen once (January, 1906), when I watched a pair in the river (Flinders) 

 timber. 



