The food OOllBiBta of the Seeds i»t* various grasses and other small plants. 



While perched on one of the brandies of a tree, it utters a single mournful note. 



The breeding season lasts from September to January, when a large dome-shaped nest is 

 constructed of crass and the stalks of plants, and is placed among the branches of a low tree, generally 

 in a \.r\ conspicuous position. The eggs an* white, slightly tinted with pink. They are either rive 

 .•r >i\ in number, and are eighl and a half lines long by six and a halt' lines broad. Two or three 



broods are reared in the season. 



Tli' lor. -, a line across the forehead and a circle round the eye are black : upper surface, 

 win-- and tail, olive-brown, crossed by numerous narrow crescent-shaped marks of black; rump and 

 base of tail feather.-, scarlet : throat and chest light brown ; rest of under surface, grey, the whole 

 being crossed by crescentic black bar.-: irides, brown; bill, crimson: legs and feet, yellowish-grey. 



Habitat-: Ta-maiiia and New South Wales. 



GENUS .HGINTHA (Cabanis). 



/ iARAXIS created thi- genus for a bird called by Latham, Fringilla Temporalis. It is the only 

 Vy species discovered in Australia. 



MHNTELA TEMPORALIS. 



RED- E YEBRO WED FINCH. 



fill I IS i- ,i fairly common bird in nearly all the open grassy glades and settlers' gardens of New 

 J- South Wales. Victoria and South Australia. 



It i- very tame in disposition, and is easily reconciled to captivity. 



During the breeding season it is mostly seen in pairs, but at other times assembles in large flocks. 



During September and the two following months it builds a large nest of grass, lined with 

 down, placing it in a low bush or small tree. Either five or six eggs are laid, fleshy white in 

 colour, and seven lines long by five and a half lines broad. 



The crown of the head is bluish-grey ; upper surface, wings and tail, dark olive-brown ; rump, 



patch over the eye and bill, crimson : under surface, grey ; irides, light brown ; legs and feet, 

 yellowish-grey. 



Habitats : New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. 



