Vol. X. 



IQII 



] Hill, Field Notes on Birds of Kimberley, N.-W. Aiist. 289 



T/ENIOPYGIA c.\.ST.\NOTis (Cliestniit-eared Finch). 

 Rarely seen. 



.SiicTOPTKRA ANNULOSA (iJlack-ringed Finch). 



A common bird near the coast and on the sandstone hills, where eggs were 

 taken from March to June. As a rule the nests are built in exposed positions 

 in stunted scrub (Calycotlirix iiucrophylla^ Cunn.), but it is not unusual to find 

 them very carefully concealed amongst the dead leaves of pandanus palms. 

 Fine twigs and grass or grass only are the materials used in nest building. 

 I'^rom three to eight eggs are laid. 



Measurements of birds in mm. : — 



c? 



MUNIA CASTANEITHORAX (Chestnut-breasted Finch). 



These birds were very numerous on Hecla Island on 141109, and 

 appeared to be resting after a long flight. Very few were seen at Napier 

 IJroome Bay until May, when many small flocks of 10 to 20 birds (generally 

 in immature plumage) arri\ed. 



POEPHILA ACUTICAUDA (Long-tailed Grass-Finch). 



A common resident near Xapier Broome Bay. The nests are generally 

 built in the tops of pandanus palms, or in small trees, at from 4 feet 6 inches 

 to 20 feet from the ground, but it is not unusual to find them in spinifex 

 grass, from 12 to iS inches from the ground. The nests vary somewhat 

 according to the site chosen. Those in the grass and pandanus are generally 

 built of grass and lined with feathers. Charcoal was found amongst the 

 feathers in three nests taken from spinifex. I noticed that nests built in 

 trees were generally constructed of grass, small herbaceous plants, and 

 pieces of wire-like creeper, and were more often lined with grass than with 

 feathers. One nest was lined with about 18 inches of snake-skin. The 

 nesting season commenced after the rainy season, eggs being taken from 

 23rd April to 2 1st June. From 3 to 8 eggs are laid in a nest. 



Measurements of birds in mm. : — 



PoKPHlLA PERSONATA (Masked Finch). 



A few birds were seen near Napier Broome Bay at rare intervals, but in 

 the barren country nearer the Drysdale River this species is more plentiful 

 than r. acuticauda. The nests are more often built in the grass than in 

 trees, and in many cases rest on the ground, near a stump or log. About a 

 teaspoonful of finely broken charcoal was found in each nest. 



Measurements of birds in mm. : — 



POEPHILA c.OULDl/i': (Gouldian Finch). 



On i6th and 19th November, flocks of these Finches arrived at the station, 

 and remained a couple of weeks. Six weeks later many more arri\ed, and 

 remained until the l^eginning of July. None of these birds nested in the 

 district. The red and black-headed varieties were always found in the same 

 flocks, the latter outnumbering the former by about three to one. 



