THE CHESTNUT-BREASTED FINCH. 233 



Mr. Gould observes : " 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 rivers and lagoons of the 

 eastern coast, and that it much resembles the Bearded Tit (Colamophilus 

 biarmicus) of Europe, in the alertness with which it passes up and 

 down the upright stems of reeds, from the lower part to the very top, 

 a habit for which the lengthened and curved form of the claws seems 

 well adapted." 



Mr. North writes : " This species is widely distributed over the 

 whole of the northern parts of New South Wales and Queensland. 

 It breeds plentifully in the extensive grass beds of the Clarence 

 and Richmond river districts, also at Maryborough, Queensland. 

 The nest is a large structure, in shape like a flask or bottle on its 

 side, and the entrance, which is about an inch and a half wide, is 

 situated at the end of a long neck, the whole being about fourteen 

 inches in length by six inches in diameter in its widest part. It is 

 usually built near the top of some bushy shrub, or in tangled masses 

 of vines, and composed of grasses and the leaves of reeds, with fine 

 stems of plants (Gardenia or Lobelia according to the district its owner 

 frequents), being lined with finer materials the downy tops of reeds 

 and flags, and occasionally a few feathers. It closely resembles the 

 nest of Neochmia phaeton, which I have received from Port Denison, 

 and, like that, is often found placed among the stiff leaves of a grass- 

 like plant, growing upon the sides of trees, in and about the edges of 

 the scrubs. The eggs are four or five in number, of a dead limy- 

 white colour." 



I purchased a beautiful pair, of this very pretty Mannikin, from 

 Mr. Abrahams, on April 2nd, 1894. The difference in the streaking 

 on the crown of the head was well-defined in the sexes, the streaks 

 being much better marked in the male bird, whilst in the female the 

 chestnut breast-band was paler. 



The song of this Mannikin is rather melancholy and weak in 

 tone, but easily audible ; it commences thus : " Whit, whit, whit, whit" 

 each utterance quite distinct, but all alike ; then " Wee-wee-wee-wee-wee- 

 wee-wee-wee, tweeo, ttuee-ur;" in fact it bears a distant resemblance to 

 that of the Java Sparrow, rather than to the other more typical 

 Munias. 



I was unfortunate with my hen ; which, shortly after I purchased 

 my pair, developed disease of the brain, entirely preventing her flying, 

 causing her also to move in a circle and fall over when excited. 

 Though otherwise perfectly well, she was now worse than useless, for 



