Freely Imported Species and their Treatment. 10 > 



compartment was about 1^- feet square, with a heiglit of '■) to 

 4J- feet, further description is unnecessary, save perhaps to add 

 that at the back of each compartment, a Hartz travelling-cage 

 was fixed, as high up as possible, as a nest receptacle; and in 

 this portable outdoor cage I bred the three specMCs described 

 in this paper. The above cage stood in my garden under a 

 large Victoria Plum tree, and faced the small garden aviary, 

 figured and described on page 5 of current volume. 



Tnp; Zebra Finc:h {Tceniopygia castanotls},: This, one 

 of the best known of Australian Finches, has not been iSO 

 freely imported of late years. While not gorgeous in plumage 

 it certainly is not plain, and its characteristics and demeanour 

 are distinctly interesting. It is found freely in all i)arts of 

 Australia, save perhaps in the East. 



Desckjption: Top of the head, neck, and fore [lai't of 

 back pearl-grey, gradually merging into the bi'ownish-grey of 

 the lowei back; rump and upper tail coverts white bari'ed with 

 black; tail black; sides of face whitish-grey, separated from 

 the ricli chestnut ear-coverts by a narrow black streak; throat 

 and forechest silvery grey, barred with black; mid-chest black; 

 remainder of under surface white, slightly washed with buff; 

 sides of body rufous-chestnut spotted with white; beak bright 

 red; feet reddish-flesh colour. The hen is a pretty l)tit unas- 

 suming brownish-grey bird, lighter on the under pai'ts and 

 entirely lacking the black and chestnut markings of the male. 



Wild Life: They are usually found in small Hocks, and 

 mostly on the ground, as their main diet consists of the seeds of 

 various grasses. The nest is flask-shaped and is usually found at 

 a low elevation. 



In Captivity: In cage or aviary, they will avail tliein- 

 selves of any box, travelling cage, or husk that is available 

 or fdch the nest of some other bird; the eggs are white and 

 the clutch varies from three to seven. I have had a brood of 

 six robust youngsters leave the nest simultaneously though the 

 number is usually three or four, and there are usually three and 

 sometimes four broods during the year. Incubation lasts thir- 

 teen days, and the young are always interesting. After they 

 have left the nest, they follow their parents about, throw them- 

 selves sideways, turn the beak upwards, and " yell blue -murder 

 for grub " (one of our members will recognise this descriptive 



