416 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



part of November they, were either in pairs or in small 

 companies, not exceeding six in nnmber : the males decorated 

 with their rich red and spotted dress." 



The stomach is muscular, and the food consists of grass 

 and other small seeds. 



Crown of the head deep bluish black ; lores, line over the 

 eye, sides of the face, and ear-coverts rich crimson red ; under 

 surface crimson red, spotted on the flanks with white ; centre 

 of the abdomen and under tail-coverts black; back of the 

 neck and rump dark brownish grey ; back and wings brownish 

 grey, each feather crossed near the extremity with a band of 

 deep crimson red; upper tail-coverts and two centre tail- 

 feathers deep red; the remainder deep red at the base, 

 passing into brown at the tip ; bill rich carmine, bounded at 

 the base by a band of greyish white about one-tenth of an 

 inch in breadth ; hinder part of the tarsi and inside of the 

 feet ochre-yellow; front of tarsi and upper surface of the 

 feet ochre-yellow, strongly tinged with hyacinth-red. 



The female, which is rather smaller than the male, is brown 

 above, a few of the feathers on the back and the wing-coverts 

 crossed with red as in the male ; lores, line over the eye, sides 

 of the face, chin, upper tail-coverts, and tail as in the male, 

 but not quite so brilliant ; breast and flanks greyish brown, 

 the latter ornamented with a few small spots of white ; centre 

 of the abdomen buff. 



Genus STAGONOPLEURA, Cabanis. 



This genus has been instituted for the Zoxia (/iittata of 

 Shaw, and as yet Australia has given us but a single species ; 

 but when the interior and the northern coast line have been 

 explored, others may be discovered there. 



When fully adult, the sexes of this form are very similar ; 

 but the young birds are very different. 



