142 



(B) 0-75 X 0-55 inch, (C) 0-77 x 0-57 inch, (D) 0-77 x 0-57 inch. 

 Another specimen has the ground-colour of a clear greyish-white, 

 and the markings larger and darker. Length, 0*8 x 0*57 inch. 



[On the grassy flats, which extend for some distance on each 

 side of the Fitzroy River, these birds are so numerous as to 

 convey the idea that the headquarters of the species is in that 

 locality. When we arrived at the lagoon near the river men- 

 tioned on November 6, I was surprised at their numbers. As we 

 passed along a constant succession of birds kept rising from the 

 ground and flying to the right and left of our line, but seldom 

 went more than 20 yards before they again settled. It was 

 impossible to throw a stick in any direction without disturbing 

 several. Around the lagoon they were found in such numbers as 

 to remind one of sparrows in a dry thistle field. They were very 

 plentiful near the Fitzroy River Telegraph Station and at Mount 

 Campbell, where they were found breeding in February. Their 

 nests are usually placed near a small tussock of grass, or in a 

 slight hollow formed by the pressure of a horse's foot ; the 

 material used to line them with is fine grass. The eggs are 

 beautifully glossy, the ground being a pale-stone colour, almost 

 obscured with brown spots. Four is the usual clutch.] 



No. 30. Bathilda ruficauda (Red-tailed Finch). 



Amadiiia ruficauda^ Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1836, p. 106. 



Estrelda ruficauda, Gould, Bds. Austr., fol., vol. III., pi. 84 

 (1848); Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., vol L, 2nd series, p. 

 1,090(1886). 



Bathilda ruficauda, Sharpe, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., vol. XIIL, 

 p. 374 (1890). 



Four adult males, four adult females, four immature males. 

 Camp about five miles from the junction of the Fitzroy and 

 Margaret Rivers. Apparently very common. The females may 

 be distinguished by their duller plumage, the less extent of 

 crimson on the face and head, and the larger white spots on the 

 throat and sides of the body. Young birds when first assuming 

 the plumage of the adult have the white spots on the under- 

 surface very much larger than when they attain their full livery. 



Three eggs taken in March, 1897, from a dome-shaped nest 

 constructed entirely of green grass, are pure white. Length, 

 (A) 0-57 X 0-41 inch, (B) 0-57 x 0-43 inch, (C) 0-6 x 042 inch. 



[These birds were only found in the vicinity of the telegraph 

 line, near the junction of the Fitzroy and Margaret Rivers, where 

 they appeared to be permanently located. They were generally 

 seen in small flocks. A nest of this species, from which I shot 

 the bird, was flask-shaped, and built entirely of fresh, green grass, 

 from which the colour had not had time to fade. It contained 

 five white eggs.] 



