THE DIAMOND SPARROW. 181 



mentioned in the following extract from my journal : ' Oct. 23, 

 Found the nest of the Spotted-sided Finch placed under and among 

 the sticks of a Whistling Eagle's fHaliastur? sphenurusj nest, in which 

 latter the old bird was then sitting. My black companion Natty 

 ascended the tree, a high swamp oak (CassnarinaJ on the bank of the 

 Dartbrook, and brought down the eggs of both birds. The little 

 Finches were sitting on the small twigs close to their rapacious, but 

 friendly neighbour.' At other times the nest of this Finch is placed 

 on the leafy branch of a gum or apple-tree. It is of a large size, 

 and is constructed of grasses of various kinds, in form it is nearly 

 spherical, with a short pendant spout on one side, through which the 

 bird obtains access to the interior; the eggs are white, rather long in 

 shape, and five or six in number." 



" The young for the first year has the bill black, except at the 

 base, where it is flesh-colour ; the band across the breast and the 

 flanks greyish-brown, the latter being barred indistinctly with black 

 and greyish-white ; in other respects the plumage nearly resembles the 

 adult." " 



Mr. North observes :" This beautiful bird is plentifully dispersed 

 over New South Wales and Victoria, and is still to be found breeding 

 close to Sydney. The nest, like all other members of the genus is 

 composed of dried wiry grasses, &c., spherical in form with an 

 elongated neck, used for ingress and egress, it is usually placed low 

 down in the thick foliage of a Syncarpia, Eucalyptus, or Angophora in 

 New South Wales. Bggs pure white, five or six in number for a 

 sitting, lengthened in form, being nearly equal in size at both ends." 

 " September and the three following months constitute the breeding 

 season of this species." 



Dr. Russ says of the Diamond Finch : " Not so gracefully active 

 as the little Astrilds, quieter and more restful, like most of the 

 Amandines ; unusually confiding, permits its beautiful plumage to be 

 closely admired. A deep flute-like call-note, and a monotonous bass 

 note as a love-song. Courting: a measured courtesying, head directed 

 downwards, so that the beak almost rests upon the breast, and then 

 the wonderful bass sounds ring out, and the long-drawn flute-sound 

 of the female. On their arrival, from their native country, usually 

 almost entirely bare of feathers and emaciated ; they, however, soon 

 recover under careful treatment and regain health and magnificent 

 plumage. Nesting contrivances :- Little nesting baskets sewn over with 

 linen in Hartz-cages, or other kinds of retreats to slip into when it is 

 cold, soft grass stalks, feathers, &c., being provided. They nest in 



