143 



No. 31. Stictoptera annulosa (Black-rumped Finch). 



Amadina annulosa, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1839, p. 143. 



Estrelda annidosa, Uould, Bds. Austr., fol., vol. III., pi. 81 

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

 1,090 (1886). 



Stictoptera annidosa, North, Nests and Eggs Austr. Bds., p. 

 161(1889); Sharpe, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., vol. XIII., p. 314 

 (1890). 



An adult male and female. Camp about five miles from the 

 junction of the Fitzroy and Margaret Rivers. 



Four eggs taken from a dome-shaped nest of dried grasses in 

 March, 1897, are white, with an almost imperceptible tinge of 

 blue. 



Length--(A) 0-55 x 041 inch, (B) 0-55 x 0-38 inch, (C) 

 0-54 X 0-4 inch, (D) 0-55 x 0-4 inch. The eggs of this Finch 

 ^re the smallest of all our Australian birds. 



[This pretty Finch was only seen near the Fitzroy River, 

 where it was breeding during February and March. By a 

 ■close observation of the material used it is possible to determine 

 to which species of Finch the nest belongs. The Ringed Finch 

 usually chooses a site in some drooping branch about 10 ft. from 

 the ground. In the case of those examined the outer covering 

 was invariably very coarse — dead grass loosely woven together — 

 but the lining was of the finest silver-gras:j, and a marvel of 

 neatness. Six eggs form the usual clutch. Although some were 

 perfectly white, one clutch from which I caught the bird had a 

 faint bluish tinge, similar to those of the Chestnut-eared Finch.] 



No. 32. MuxiA PECTORALis (White-breastcd Finch). 



Amndina pectoralis, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1839), p. 127. 



Donacola pectoralis, Gould, Bds. Austr., fol., vol. III., pi. 95 

 <1848). 



Donacicola pectoralis, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S.W., vol. 

 L, 2nd series, p. 1,091 (1886). 



Munia pectoralis, Sharpe, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., vol. XIII., p. 

 354 (1890). 



An adult male and female. Camp about five miles from the 

 junction of the Fitzroy and Margaret Rivers. This species is 

 also found in the neighbourhood of Normanton. 



[This Finch was only seen between the Telegraph Station and 

 the Margaret River. It proved very shy, and although frequently 

 disturbed whilst feeding amongst the long grass, or seen flying 

 from tree to tree, only two or three were shot.] 



