254 Bicheno's and Ringed Finches. 



The difference between the sexes is so infinitesimal that 

 sortint^- them out correctly is largely a matter of chance, but 

 once a true pair is secured the owner can usually tell which is 

 which. The hen is slightly slimmer and smaller, her beak more 

 wedge-shaped, and her appearance and deportment more effem- 

 inate. 



S. annulosa. — Similar to bichowz'ii, but has the rump 

 and upper tail-coverts black. 



Range: ^. bichenovii — North-east and Eastern Australia. 

 5. annulosa — Northern and North-west Australia. 



Bicheno's Finch. — This is a delicate species as a new 

 arrival, but, when once acclimatised not more so than the popu- 

 lar Gouldian Finch. It has been known to aviculture for many 

 years and was bred by the late Mr. Weiner, who found that the 

 young- were easily reared. This has not been by any means the 

 general experience, and it cannot, except in isolated instances, 

 be called a prolific species. Many hens are lost from egg-bind- 

 ing during- wet, inclement seasons; there are also trying losses 

 from pneumonia and other causes. In the writer's aviary young 

 have never been fully reared; though they have nested and had 

 eggs, but the death of the hens has usually stopped results. In 

 one instance young- were hatched out and lived to be nearly 

 fledged, but at the critical moment cold rains became prevalent, 

 the hen died and the male bird left his offspring to perish ; others, 

 however, have been more fortunate, and isolated instances of 

 success have been fairly numerous. Our member Mrs. Howard 

 Williams, has bred them rather freely in a roomy flight cage. 

 She obtained an acclimatised pair, which went to nest at once in 

 a rush nest, and successfully brought off a brood. The late Dr. 

 H. Hetley also met with similar success, one or more broods 

 being successfully reared in a large flight cage in one of his sit- 

 ting rooms. 



Our member, Mr. L. W. Hawkins had the happy experi- 

 ence of finding them quite prolific in his aviary. A pair built a 

 nest in a coco-nut husk, hanging high up in one of his aviaries 

 using hay and a few feathers. Here, during the same season 

 they successfully reared three broods of two, four and three 

 young ones respectively. Two other young were also reared by 



