AST AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 179 



1 378*Spotted-sided Finch, Diamond-Sparrow (e), Java- 



1 Sparrow (e), Stagonopleura guttata, S.Q., N.S.W., 



V., S.A. Stat. c. grass 4.6 



"Showy, attractive;" crown gray; back, wings brown; 

 rump, bill, eye red; sides, chest-band, tail black; sides 

 spotted white; throat, centre abdomen white; f., sim. 

 Grass-seeds. 



2 379*Firetailed Finch, Firetail, Zonaeginthus bellus, S.Q., 



2 N.S.W., V., S.A., T. Stat. r. grass 4.6 



Upper olive-brown, finely-barred black; under gray, finely- 

 barred black; rump, bill scarlet; about eye black; f., 

 sim. Seeds. 



1 380* Chestnut-eared Finch (Zebra), Taeniopygia castano- 



2 tis, A. (interior). Nom. small flocks, v.r. plains 4.2 

 Upper brown; rump white; upper base tail black, with 



three white spots; cheeks chestnut; throat, chest gray, 

 barred black; black band on chest; abdomen white; 

 flanks chestnut, spotted white; feet, bill orange; f., 

 throat, chest gray, fringed brown; abdomen yellowish- 

 brown. Grass-seeds. 



1 381*Plum-headed Finch (Diadem, Plain-colored), Aidemo- 

 4 syne modesta, S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A. 



Stat, small flocks, r. grass 4.6 

 Crown deep purple; bill, between eye and bill, spot on 

 chin black; upper brown; wings spotted white; side- 

 tail tipped white; under white barred brown; f., no 

 black on chin. Seeds. 



2 382* Red-browed Finch (Temporal), Redhead, Redbill 

 2 (e), Sydney Waxbill, JEginfka temporalis, E.A., S.A. 



Stat, small flocks, r. grass 4.5 

 Bill, patch over eye, rump crimson; crown gray; upper 

 olive-brown; under lighter; f., sim. Seeds. 

 F. 155. Icteridae, Bobolink, Cowbird, Blackbirds (Am.), 

 Oriole (Am.), Redwing (Am.), 185 sp — 35(15)Nc, 

 170 (150) Nl. 

 F. 156. Sturnidae, Starlings, Grackles, 60 sp. — 2(1) A., 

 42(28)0., 29(14)P., 2(1)E. 



Gould placed the Australian Finches in the same family as the 

 Sparrow — the Fringillidae — which includes also the Linnet and 

 the cage Canary. Most writers now put them in with the 

 Weaver-Birds or Weaver Finches (family Ploceidae). Twenty- 

 three Finches have been recorded from Australia. All have the 

 well-known Finch bill, adapted for shelling seeds, and all are 

 seed-eaters, though some occasionally take insects in addition. 



The Spotted-sided Finch is true to name, as a glance at the 

 illustration shows. The rare Fire-tail is beautifully and closely 

 banded below, while the Chestnut-eared Finch is oanded on the 

 throat and chest. The Plum-headed Finch has a deep crimson 

 forehead, and is banded below. 



The Red-browed Finch is often called the "Firetail," for it 



