ESTRELDA RUFICAUDA. 



(Jied-tailed Finch.) 



Male — Forehead, face, and bill, bright scarlet ; a few white dots on the cheeks ; upper surface and wings, brownish olive ; upper tail coverts 

 and tail, brownish crimson, each feather of the former having a spot of pinky white near the tip ; throat and under surface, greyish buff? 

 spotted with large oval whitish spots ; under tail coverts, buff ; feet, yellowish buff ; irides, lemon yellow. 



The Female has a general resemblance to the male, but is rather smaller, and not so bright in color. 



Length, 4 inches ; wing, 2 ; tail, l-f ; bill, 5-16 ; tarsus, f . 



This very handsome species is found in the interior of the northern portion of New South "Wales, and also in Queensland. In 

 the neighborhood of Eockhampton, in the district of Port Curtis, it appears in considerable numbers, and, being capable of enduring captivity 

 well, has been in much request for the cage, living very readily on canary-seed. It is generally seen in small flocks, feeding on grass seeds. 



ESTRELDA TEMPORALIS. 



(Bed Eyehrowed Finch.) 



♦ 



Ceowjs", grey ; upper surface and wings, dark olive, inclining to grey j eyebrow and upper tail coverts, brilliant scarlet ; tail, dark grey ; 

 throat, chest, flanks, and under tail coverts, light grey; abdomen, buff; bill, scarlet, with a small black patch above and below ; feet, flesh- 

 color ; irides, brownish red. 



Length, 4i inches ; wing, 2 ; tail. If ; bill, 5-16 ; tarsus, f. 



This species is plentiful from South Australia to Queensland, frequenting grassy situations, its food consisting of seeds. Though 

 easily reconciled to the cage, it seldom lives long in captivity, being of a delicate nature. It assembles in flocks of considerable numbers, 

 except in the breeding season, when it associates in pairs, building the nest in a low bush or tuft of rank grass. The structure is rather 

 large, being formed of grasses externally, and lined with vegetable down in the interior. Eggs, five or six, fleshy white. 



ESTRELDA PHOTON. 



(Crimson Finch) 



Ceown, bluish black ; side of the neck, dark grey ; line over the eye, ear coverts, upper tail coverts, and most of the under surface, bright 

 crimson ; (the abdomen in the female has a tinge of brown) ; a few small white spots on the flanks ; centre of abdomen and under tail coverts, 

 black ; tail, red ; bill, rich crimson, shading into whitish at the base ; legs and feet, ochre yellow, tinged with red in front ; irides, reddish 



brown. 



Length, 5i inches ; wing, 11 ; tail, 2| ; bill, f ; tarsus, |. 



This elegant species is a native of Queensland and Northern Australia, from the Port Curtis district to Port Essington. Like 

 the former, it frequents situations where grasses abound, its food principally consisting of the seeds of that family of plants. A good many 

 have been received alive from Eockhampton, and seem to endure captivity very well. 



AMADINA CASTANOTIS. 



(Ghestnut-eared Finch) 



Male— Crown of the head and back, brownish grey ; wings, brown ; rump, white ; upper tail coverts, black, spotted with large white spots ; 

 tail, brown ; ear coverts and flanks, chestnut, the latter spotted with small white spots ; a white patch in front of the eye is bounded before 

 and behind by a narrow black line ; throat and chest, grey, finely banded with black ; a patch of black in the centre of the chest ; abdomen 

 white ; bill, scarlet ; feet, yellowish flesh-color. 



The Female differs from the male in wanting the chestnut ear coverts and flanks, the bands and black mark on the chest, &c., 

 but bears sufficient similarity to be easily recognizable. 



Length, 4 inches ; wing, 2 ; tail. If inch ; bill, 5-16 ; tarsus, |. 



This well-marked species is found in South and "West Australia, probably over the whole of the interior, as well as the north- 

 west coasts— a species which seems identical being found in the Malayan Islands. Captain Sturt refers to this bird as the sure indication of 

 water being near. It assembles in large flocks, feeding on the seeds of plants, particularly those of the grasses. It builds in the neighborhood 

 of lagoons and creeks, several nests being often constructed in the same bush. The period of incubation is December. The raptorial 

 birds make great havoc among this species, and frequently carry off a pair at one swoop. 



AMADINA LATHAMI. 



(Spotted-sided Finch.) 



Crown of the head, ear coverts, and neck, grey ; back and wings, brown ; upper tail coverts, bright scarlet ; tail, band across the chest, and 

 a patch in front of the eye, black ; flanks, black, spotted with large oval white spots ; throat and under surface, white ; bill, purplish red ; 

 irides, crimson ; feet, lead-color. 



Length, 4 inches ; wing, 2 ; tail. If ; bill, k ; tarsus, |. 



This conspicuous species is very common in various parts of New South "Wales, and occasionally in the southern portions of 

 Queensland. Its favourite resort is grassy situations on the banks of creeks, or anywhere where grass-seed is plentiful. As a cage pet it is 

 a great favourite, and is trapped in large numbers by the bird catchers. 



