Grass-Finches. 



59 



undoubted adult pair, the hen of which lived in one of my flight- 

 cages for six months and the cock for seventeen months under daily 

 observation. 



Gouldian Finch (Poephila mirabilis). 



The female in both types is smaller than the male, has a more 

 pointed but much less powerful beak, that of the male being swollen 

 at the sides to near the point. The colouring of the hen is 

 altogether duller, the green of the upper parts without golden gloss, 

 the nape and back of crown hardly showing a trace of the vivid 



THE UOULDIAN FINCH. 



greenish cobalt of the cock bird ; the rump ashy, the upper tail- 

 coverts much less blue ; the pansy-violet of the breast replaced by 

 dull lilac, the saffron-yellow of the abdomen by pale yellow, buffish 

 in -front and whitish at centre. In the red-faced variety the female 

 varies much as regards the amount of crimson ; frequently it is 

 restricted to a few scattered feathers, and I have rarely seen it so 

 well developed as in the male birds. It is probable that the same 

 holds good for the sport of this variety with the orange or yellow 

 face, which has only recently begun to be imported. 



White-eared Grass-Finch (Poephila leucotis). 



The sexes are said to be alike, and even Mr Phillipps, who 

 persuaded the species to nest with him, was unable to point out a 

 reliable character for distinguishing them, but there must be a 

 difference, however slight, or the birds could not distinguish male 

 from female. 



