INSESSORES. 415 



Genus NEOCHMIA, Hombron et Jacquinot. 



The bird to which the above generic title has been given, 

 and by which it must hereafter be known, differs from all the 

 other members of its family in the lengthened form of its tail, 

 and in its peculiar red colouring. 



Sp. 256. NEOCHMIA PHAETON. 



Crimson Einch. 



Fringilla phaeton, Homb. et Jacq. Ann. des Sci. Nat., torn. vi. p, 314. 

 Neochmia phaeton, G. R. Gray, Cat. of Gen. and Subgen. of Birds in 



Brit. Mus., p. 76. 

 Ing-a-dam-oon, Aborigines of Port Essington. 

 Red Finch, Residents of Port Essington. 



Estrelda phaeton, Gould, Birds of Australia, foL, vol. ill. pi. 83. 



In a paper addressed by MM. Hombron and Jacquinot to 

 the Academic des Sciences on the 9th of August 1841, 

 entitled " Description de plusieicrs Oiseaux nouveaux ou pen 

 connus, provenant de V expedition autour du monde faite sur les 

 corvettes l' Astrolabe et la Zelee^ I find the characters of a 

 Einch, which, although the colouring does not quite agree 

 with that of the bird here figured, I have little doubt is 

 identical with it, I am the more inclined to consider this 

 to be the case from the circumstance of MM. Hombron and 

 Jacquinot's bird having been collected at Raffles' Bay, a 

 locality closely bordering that in which Gilbert procured his 

 specimens, and who states that " this bird is an inhabitant of 

 moist grassy meadows, particularly where the Pandanits 

 (Screw Pine) is abundant. It is generally found feeding 

 among the grass, and when distm'bcd invariably takes to those 

 trees. Erom July to November it is to be observed in large 

 flocks, sometimes of several hunckeds ; but although great 

 numbers were shot during this period, not more than three or 

 four were obtained in the rich plumage. About the latter 



