RED-BROWED FINCH 
363 
attempt at concealing the nest, which is placed in 
almost any sort of shrub, though preferably in a 
kangaroo-acacia or prickly mimosa. Another favourite 
site is in the contracted dead tops of some tall-stemmed 
sapling which has been killed by a bush-fire. 
The eggs are generally six in number, pure white. 
So closely does the bird sit and so long is the entrance 
spout that as boys we found it quite easy to catch 
the sitting hen by approaching the nest quietly and 
placing a hand at the entrance, when she would 
fly right into it. We probably enjoyed the subsequent 
harmless examination of her beautiful little form 
better than did the bird. 
ORIOLE 
Mimeta sagittata sagittata 
This Thrush-like bird may be distinguished from 
any other bird of similar size by the pear-shaped 
streaks of black all down its white breast. It is now 
an exceedingly rare bird in the district ; I had, 
indeed, supposed it to be long extinct, when, in the 
early morning of September 20th, 191 3, I heard its 
trilling, flute-like call near the railway at Gherang, 
on the line to Wensleydale, and presently saw the 
bird perched on the top of a dead gum. It had no 
doubt just arrived (the species is a spring and summer 
visitor only to Southern Victoria), for it kept flying 
from tree to tree in a westerly direction until it 
passed out of sight. 
