The Diamond Finch. 
occupied my aviaries, and though, wo have received what may 
be the last consignment of Australian Finches, including some 
pairs of H. guttata, a recalling of some of my experiences 
with the species may not be out of place here, as well as 
helping to fill a gap in the Magazine at a jperiod, when 
" copy " is a trifle slack. 
While not so raiiil)ow hued as many of Australia's glori- 
ously beautiful avifauna, the Diamond Finch is certainly a 
" feathered exquisite," though a robust one and would grace 
any company however gorgeous or regal their robes might be. 
The sexes as regards plumage are practically alike, but 
the base of the upper mandible of the female is pink, that 
of 'the male teing crimson and the crown of his head is a little 
broader than that of his mate. 
It is a widely distributed species, and extends over 
South Australia to New South Wales, and northwards to the 
Wide Bay district. 
The adult male is greyish -brown above, much greyer 
on the head; rump and upper tail-coverts fiery crimson -scarlet 
(richest of carmine — reds) ; tail deep black ; under surface pure 
white, sides of body black, thickly spotted with sharply de- 
iflned white spots, a broad band of black crosses the chest and 
meets the black area on sides of body; beak crimson; legs 
and feet grey. 
The natural nest is constructed of fine grasses, of ,a 
spherical form with a side entrance, and is usually placed 
in a gum or apple tree ; and sometimes amid the sticks form- 
ing the base of an Eagle's nest. Its natural food consists of 
the seed of indigenous grasses and other weeds and un- 
doubtedly many insects, for in captivity it is a species that 
fully appreciates the toothsome mealworm — the last of the 
young birds reared in my aviary died at the age of eight years 
and for the last four of these it came to my hand when I 
entered the aviary either with live-bait tin or seeding grasses. 
I have never had a nest constructed in tree or bush 
ill my i viri.ry, a box has always been chosen and a spherical, 
nest constructed therein, they have also used wire baskets 
(flower pot holders), and the Hartz travelling-cage as sites 
for the nest. The incubation period has been (counting from 
