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FRINGILLA BICHENOVII, Vig. $ Horsf. 

 Bicheno's Finch. 



PLATE XII.— Fig. 3. 



F. brunnea, graciliter fusco-fasciata ; pteromatibus remigibusque albo-tessellatis ; ge- 

 nis, gutture, abtlomine, uropigioque albis ; loris, fascia gracili gutturali alteraque 

 abdominali, dorso imo, crisso, rectricibusque nigris. 



JLhis delicately coloured species was discovered in September 1802 by Mr 

 Brown at Shoal-water Bay and Broad Sound, New Holland. 



The length is between three and four inches : the bill is greenish-yellow, 

 paler towards the edges of the mandibles, and passes into blackish-grey at 

 the base. Crown of the head, neck, and back, are wood-brown, crossed with 

 numerous fascia? of a deeper tint, and more distinct on the lower part of the 

 neck and back ; the forehead, where it joins the bill, is black, gradually shaded 

 into the brown of the upper parts ; the quills are black, the outer webs mark- 

 ed with triangular white spots ; the secondaries, greater and lesser coverts, 

 are regularly spotted with yellowish-white, the spots are generally arranged 

 in pairs, and give the wings a beautifully tessellated appearance ; the upper 

 tail-coverts are white ; the cheeks, throat, breast, and belly, are white ; there 

 is a narrow, deep black fascia round the ears, and passing under the throat, 

 which is formed by the tips of the auricular feathers having a narrow black 

 edge ; another broader black band surrounds the lower part of the breast, 

 and passes under the wings ; the under tail-coverts and tail are black ; the 

 legs are bluish-grey. 



This beautiful species forms part of the collection of the Linnean Society 

 of London, and it is through their liberality that we are now enabled to give 

 the figure which accompanies this description. The specimen we believe to 

 be unique, and was the only one brought from New Holland by Mr Brown. 

 It has been named by Mr Vigors and Dr Horsfielh in honour of J. E. 

 Bicheno, Esq. a gentleman earnestly devoted to the study of natural his- 

 tory, and deserving well the compliment paid to him by his brother natu- 

 ralists. 



