426 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



upon the seeds of which and other plants it mostly subsists. 

 The range of this species is entirely unknown ; I have never 

 seen a specimen except from the localities above mentioned. 



Crown of the head and back of the neck grey ; ear- coverts 

 and sides of the neck silvery grey ; throat and lores black ; 

 back, chest, and abdomen chestnut-brown ; wings the same, 

 but darker ; lower part of the body surrounded by a black 

 band ; tail-coverts white ; tail, which is short when compared 

 with other species of the genus, black ; bill black ; irides 

 reddish brown ; eyelash blackish brown ; feet pink-red. 



Total length 4^ inches ; bill | ; wing 2f ; tail 2^ ; tarsi f . 



The female differs from her mate by all her markings being 

 more obscm'ely defined. 



Genus DONACOLA, Gould. 



AVhen the habits of the Australian Finches become fully 

 known, I have no doubt that they will be found to differ con- 

 siderably, and that the members of each division of them will 

 exhibit as marked a difference in their economy as they do in 

 their structure and markings. 



The late Mr. Elsey informed me that the Donacola build, in 

 low tea-trees overhanging water, a large spouted nest, with a 

 small cavity, of dry bark of those trees and of JPandanus. 



Sp. 265. DONACOLA CASTANEOTHORAX, Gould. 



Chestnut-breasted Finch. 

 Amadina castaneothorax, Gould in Syn. Birds of Australia, part ii. 



Donacola castaneothorax, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. ill. 

 pi. 94. 



I had not the good fortune to meet with this bird in a state 

 of nature, but I have been informed that it frequents reed- 

 beds bordering the banks of the rivers and lagoons of the 

 eastern coast, and that it much resembles the Bearded Tit 



