36o BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT OF GEELONG 
it spends most of its time, at first sight be mistaken 
for the Chat, for the striking characteristic of each 
is a pure white under-surface crossed hy a deep black 
band on the chest. But the white-spotted flanks, 
red bill, and above all the brilliant scarlet patch 
above the tail, render very little observation necessary 
in order to distinguish the Spotted-sided Finch. 
I do not remember ever to have seen it on the 
eastern side of the town, nor, I think, on the southern, 
though friends of mine have noted it at Airey's 
Inlet. The birds I have seen have always been 
at one point or another along the rivers above the 
junction, or on the plains sparsely dotted with 
she-oaks which lie to the west about Inverleigh and 
Gnarwarre. I have not seen more than two or three 
birds together. 
The call is a long, loud, and yet melancholy single- 
noted whistle, an extraordinary one for so small a 
bird. It is not unlike the note of the Spotted Ground- 
thrush. 
I should think it not unlikely that this bird breeds 
regularly on the plains, and particularly towards the 
north, but have myself only seen one nest. This was 
in a bunch of mistletoe growing within reach from 
the ground in a she-oak tree at the Dog Rocks, Bates- 
ford, in November, 1897, and contained one fresh 
egg. It was built of grass, and was large and loosely 
constructed, with a spouted entrance projecting in 
front. 
