98 Order Patsrri forme''. Family riccvid<p, Gentis Stagonopletira. 



Order Passeriformes, Family Ploceidae, 

 Genus Stagonopleura. 



;^l<i(j(>noj>]riifa guttata (S])otted-sided Finch). — Mr. 

 Gregory M. Mathews has made one sub.-sp. for \'ii'toria and 

 South Australia, calling it »S'. g. philordi. 



Description. — Upper surface and wings, brown ; rump and 

 upper tail coverts, scarlet; tail, black; Hanks, black, each 

 feather having a white spot ; broad, black band crosses the 

 breast; lores, black; crown of the head, grey; under tail coverts, 

 abdomen, and throat, white; bill, coral-red .line of bluish purple 

 at base; eyes, coral-red, with bluish eyelash; feet, brown. 



Distribution. — Dispersed over most parts of Queensland, 

 New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. 



Habitat. — The bird does not seem to be confined to any one 

 class of country, for it is found in the .Ranges, and out upon the 

 plains, and is to be met with in open limbered country, grass 

 land, and even in thick scrub. 



Habits. — Miich like other members of the family ; grega- 

 rious during many months of the year and only pairing off at 

 nesting time. 



Flight — Strong and straight ami will rise • to a great 

 altitude when shifting from one district to another. 



Note. — A long-drawn, low, and mournful note. 



Food. — The seeds of many rushes and grasses. 



Nesting Season October to December. 



Fggs — l»ure white, rather elongated. Average measure- 

 ment of la eggs 1.1):', cm. X 1.33 cm., largest egg 2.05 cm. x 1.35 

 cm., smallest egg, 1.S5 cm. x 1.25 cm. 



Nest — Large structure comi)osed of dry grass, twigs, leaves, 

 etc. A nest taken near Stone Hut was entirely covered with 

 bright yellow everlasting flowers woven into the structure of the 

 nest. 



Notes on Aphlocephala nigricincta (Black-banded 

 Whiteface), and other Birds. 



P>y .1. Neil McOilp, K.A.O.F. 



This species was noted in flocks of from two to six in num- 

 ber. The call is much sweeter and very different from the ordin- 

 ary AYhiteface, and this bird spends more of its time on the 

 ground. Though we were camped on a bore stream T did not note 

 this species coming into water, although often seen within a 



