40. NEOCHMIA. 389 



40. NEOCHMIA. 



Type. 

 Neochmia, Bp. Consp. i. p. 458 (1850) N. phaeton. 



Bonge. Confined to Australia. 



1. Neochmia phaeton. 



FringilLa phaeton, Homhr. et Jacq. Ann. Sci. Nat. (2) xvi. p. 314 



(1841). 

 Neuchuiie phaeton, Homhr. et Jacq. Voij. Pole Sud, Atlas, pi. 22. 



fig. 2 (1842-53) ; Gould, Handh.B. Austr. i. p. 415 (1865). 

 Estrikla phaeton, Gould, B. Austr. fol. iii. pi. 83 (1848) ; Grai/, Gen. 



B. ii. p. 368 (1849) ; id. lland-l. B. ii. p. 53, no. 6740 (1870) ; 



Digqles, Orn. Austr. pi. 49. {ig. 3 (1870) ; Bamsay, Free. Linn. Soc. 



N.8. W. (2) i. p. 1091 (1887), ii. p. 169 (1888). 

 Neochmia phaeton, Bp. Consp. i. p. 458 (1858) ; Reichenh. Singr. 



p. 19, Taf. V. tigs. 39, 40 (1862). 

 Astrilda phaeton, Beichenb. Viig. Keu/wll. p. 115 (1850). 

 Erythrura phaeton, Jacq. et PticJier. Voy. Pole Stcd, iii. p. 99 (1853); 



ifartl. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 462. 

 Estrelda (Neochmia) phaeton, Bamsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W. ii. 



p. 186 (1878); id. Tab. List Austr. B. p. 10 (1888). 



Adult male. General colour above crimson ; rump brown ; upper 

 tail-coverts bright crimson ; ■wing-coverts and outer aspect of 

 secondaries deep crimson ; primaries brown, externally ochreous 

 brown ; tail-feathers crimson, all but the centre ones dusky on the 

 inner webs ; head and hind neck dull ashy brown, blacker on the 

 crown ; base of forehead, lores, eyebrow, sides of face, and under 

 surface of body' fiery crimson, with some white spots on the sides of 

 the breast; centre of breast, abdomen, and under tail-coverts black ; 

 under wing-coverts fulvous ; edge of wing crimson ; quills dusky 

 below, fulvescent along the inner web : " bill rich carmine, bounded 

 at the base by a band of greyish white about one tenth of an inch 

 in breadth ; hinder part of tarsi and inside of the feet ochre-yellow, 

 front of tarsi and upper surface of the feet ochre-yellow, strongly 

 tinged with hyacinth-red " (J. Goidd). Total length 5 inches, cul- 

 men 0"4, wing 2, tail 2'35, tarsus 0-55. 



This species probably has a seasonal change, when the crimson 

 back is obscured by ashy-grey edges to the feathers. The specimens 

 which have the back more or less mixed with ashy grey are also 

 paler ashy on the head and neck and lighter crimson on the face 

 and underparts. 



Adult female. Paler in colour than the male and having the back 

 .ashy brown, with very little crimson ; the eyebrow, face, and throat 

 paler crimson ; the fore neck and chest ashy brown ; the flanks 

 lighter brown, tinged with crimson and with more frequent white 

 spots than the male ; breast and abdomen ochreous white. Total 

 length 5 inches, culmen 0"5, wing 2-15, tail 2'G, tarsus 0-6. 



Young. Distinguished by its dusky bill and nearly uniform ochre- 



