ii4 Mr. W. E. Teschemaker,


that M. flaviptymna was " undoutedly a distinct species."

Gould, in describing the original specimen, obtained by Dr.

Bynoe during the voyage of the " Beagle " in 1839, said : " It is

very nearly allied to the Donacola castaneithorax but is specifically

distinct from that as well as from every known species of this

now numerous tribe of birds."


Quite recently, however, a very curious fact has been

noted in connection with this species, which would appear to

throw some doubt on the above statement, namely that some of

the Yellow-rumped Finches imported at the commencement of

this year have begun to change colour, developing black or

brown throats with more or less distinct traces of a chestnut

band across the chest, while others (e.g. one in the Parrot

House in the Zoological Gardens) show the latter variation with-

out the dark throat. Now, if this happened in only one or two-

isolated instances, it might well have been regarded (or

disregarded) as a " sport ; " but, on making further enquiries, I

was surprised to find that the number of instances in which this

strange permutation of colour had occurred amounted to perhaps

two per cent, of the total number of living specimens now in

the country.


It is evident therefore that a mystery surrounds the

identity of the Yellow-rumped Finch and one which, before

going further, it will be interesting to discuss.


Most of our members will remember the enormous

importation of over 5,000 Australian Finches brought over by

Messrs. Payne and Wallace in the early part of 1906. I was in.

London at the time and had the pleasure not only of seeing this.

wonderful collection, but also of having a talk with Mr. Payne.

In this way I obtained from him some particulars of the wild

life of M. flavip7'ymna, and I recently applied to him again to see

if he could throw any light on this question. Mr. Payne has

very kindly consented to set down his views on paper for the

benefit of our members and I think they are worthy of the closest

consideration, not only because Mr. Payne has an experience of

many years' duration as an actual trapper, but also because

no one can talk with him for five minutes without coming to the

conclusion that his opinion, on any matters connected with.

Australian birds, is an exceedingly valuable one.



