164 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



be obtained in London, I, however, gave them oats, which appear not 

 only to have answered the purpose, but to have suited the birds 

 much better. I now use oats for all the rice-eating birds, and they 

 thrive splendidly upon this food. 



Illustration from a skin of a specimen formerly living in the 

 author's collection. 



THE GOULDIAN FINCH. 



Poephila mirabilis, HOMBR. ET JACQ. 



IT is now clearly proved that the Red-headed and Black-headed 

 forms are only different varieties or plumages of the same species. 

 Consequently the name Gouldice, originally given to the hen of the 

 Black-headed variety, sinks as a synonym. As, however, the trivial 

 name of Gouldian Finch was in use before Dr. Sclater applied that of 

 Wondrous Finch to the typical form ; as also, it is the title by which 

 bird lovers have learned to know it, it seems better to retain it for 

 the species in its entirety. The Gouldian Finch is an inhabitant of 

 Northern and North Western Australia, and was figured, under the 

 two best known forms, by Hombron and Jacquinot in the Atlas to the 

 Voy. Pole Sud. pi. 22, figs 122. A third, Yellow-headed form, has 

 since been called Poephila armitiana by Dr. K. P. Ramsay, who says 

 it "may be looked upon as the golden or Yellow-headed, phase of 

 P. inirabilis" 



The cock Gouldian Finch, in breeding plumage, has the head to 

 beyond the middle, the face and cheeks, carmine-red bordered behind 

 by black, or (P. gouldicej entirely velvety black, or again (P. armitiana) 

 with the red replaced by golden yellow ; the chin and centre of throat 

 occupied by a regular velvet-black patch edged with shining cobalt 

 blue, or peacock green; back of crown at first shining cobalt blue, 

 shading into peacock green, which passes into golden green on the 

 neck; the neck, back and upper wing-coverts, golden green; the flight- 



