THE RINGED FINCH.


(.Stidoptcra annulosa.)


By Reginald Philupps.


Many of our readers will be interested to learn that a

consignment of these interesting little finches reached the

London Market in January ; and, as most of them were offered

for sale at a business, as contrasted with a fancy, price, they were

soon scattered about the country in the homes of various lovers

of small seed-eaters. Hitherto, so far as our knowledge of the

matter extends, the species has been represented in this country

only at uncertain intervals by a few straggling pairs.


All of us know the “Double-banded’’ Finch; and many

of us have expressed surprise that a name so simple and well

adapted should be so often rejected in favour of that ot

“ Bicheno's Finch.” The reason is that there are two Double-

banded Finches; and the name “Bicheno’s Finch” has been

given to our old familiar friend to distinguish it from the species

which now claims our attention.


I have placed my new arrivals, consisting—judging by the

plumage—of birds of different ages, conditions, and sexes, in a

flight cage near to that occupied by my Bicheno’s ; and as I look

from one to the other, and compare their plumage, voices, and

movements, and observe how like they are to one another, I

wonder to myself why they should have been treated by scientists

as specifically distinct. I am not finding fault—quite the

contrary ; but I cannot help feeling that, if a number of the two

were thrown together in a confined space, in a warm climate,

they would interbreed and get mixed up together as readily as

Gouldiaus have. But, after all, this sage remark applies nearly

as forcibly to other closely allied species, such as the Masked

with the White-eared, and the Parson with the Long-tailed,

Grassfiuches.


The Bicheno’s Finch (Stidoptcra bichenovii) is found,

broadly speaking, in North-east and Eastern Australia; and it’s

place is taken in the Northern Territory and in North-west

Australia by the Ringed Finch. The lower back of Bicheno’s

Finch is white, and the lower back of the Ringed Finch

is black; and this distinction has caused persons in this

country who are unacquainted with it’s real name to call it the

Black-backed Finch. Not only is this name not nearly such a

happy and distinctive one as that of Ringed Finch, but it is a

name which has already been given by the Australians to



