110 RUDOLF SÖDERBERG, STUDIES OF THE BIRDS IN NORTH WEST AUSTRALIA. 
Mowulting (juvenal). — The moulting seems to take place at the beginning of 
Dec. The male juvenal has a partially full-moulted plumage. This has splashes of 
brownish at the cheeks, splashes of black in the breast, and faint watering at the 
sides of the neck and the chin; otherwise it is like that of the female. 
Ecological. — The chestnut-eared finch is one of the most common birds 
in the bush. It was, however, not by any means found everywhere, any more than 
most other small birds were. I saw it in flocks in the Spinifex knolls round Mowla 
Downs and round Derby, and also at Meda and at Sunday Island. TIt often used 
to search for food on the ground. The nest with 4 white eggs was found in a roof 
of straw on a shed in Meda on the 3rd of May. In Derby I observed a pair of 
birds, male and female, who appeared to be making additions, as a kind of game, to 
an old nest that did not originally belong to this species of bird. The nest had got 
a roof of long interwoven stalks of grass. On the inside it was covered with linen 
threads and straws in a chaotic mass. Bot the birds were inside the nest, the soiled 
look of which seemed to indicate that it was not meant for breeding. 
Munia bichenovii annulosa GouLp. 
Math. handl. n:r 832. 7 SS ad., 2 22 ad. Nooncanbah, Fitzroy r. !5/1;2 moult.; tail-feathers groowing- 
out; ?2/12 1910, moult.; 8/1 moult., 1/1 moult., !!/> 1911, moult.; SJ juv., 9 juv. Beagle Bay, Dampier 1. !7/7 1911 
not moult. 
Moulting season. — Dec., Jan., Febr. The scheme shows that the moulting 
season lasts all through the breeding season. 
Ecological. — At the pools of water in Meda and Beagle Bay this form was 
very common. I have especially observed it in the Pandanus groves of Beagle Bay, 
where otherwise there seemed to be extremely few birds staying. It was also very 
common at Fitzroy river. 
Munia castaneithorax gangi MATH. 
Math. handl. n:r 834, 
According to a statement by a bird-catcher it was found in the most northern 
part of Dampier land. Was not observed by me, but I have seen one of the captured 
birds in Broome. 
Munia pectoralis pectoralis GouLD. 
Math. handl. n:r 836.” 2 ad., SJ ad. Hot Spring, Fitzroy r. te 1911. 
Besides Nooncanbah (Hot Spring, Fitzroy river) it was also to be seen in the 
most northern part of Dampier land according to a statement of a bird-catcher. 
I have seen one of those captured specimens in its cage in Broome. 
AEgintha ruficauda subelarescens MATH. 
Math. handl. n:r 839. JS juv. Nooncanbah, Fitzroy r. 3/12 1910. 
