INTRODUCTION. 
xlix 
Subfamily ALAUDIN^, Bomp. 
Genus Mirafra, Horsf. 
One, if not two, species of this well-defined genus inhabit Australia. At present one only has been charac- 
terized ; but the bird of this form, frequenting the intertropical portions of the country, may prove to be a distinct 
species. 
230. Mirafra Horsfieldii, Gow/t? . . . . . . . , . . . . Vol. III. PL 77. 
Family FRINGILLID^, Vig. 
The Finches of Australia comprise twenty well-marked species, referable to several genera or subgenera, each 
of which exhibit a slight difference in structure, accompanied, as is always the case, by a difference in habit, and in 
the districts iahabited ; thus the true Estreldce frequent grassy patches in the glades of the forests, the open parts 
of gullies, &c. ; the AmadincB, the stony hills and flats ; the PdepUlce, the grass beds of the open plains ; and the 
Donacolce, the grasses of the marshy districts and reed-beds : of the habits of E^nblema nothing is known ; its 
pointed bill indicates some peculiarity in its economy differing from those of the other genera. 
All the species build, I believe, large grassy nests with a spout-like opening. 
The Avhole of those figured are peculiar to Australia. 
Genus Estrelda, Swains. 
231. Estreldabella Vol. III. PI. 78. 
Loxia nitida, Lath. Gen. Hist. vol. v. p. 268 
232. Estrelda oculea Vol. III. PI. 79. 
233. Estrelda Bichenovii . . . . Vol. III. PL 80. 
234. Estrelda annulosa, Gould . . . . . . Vol. III. PI. 81. 
235. Estrelda temporalis . VoL III. PL 82. 
236. Estrelda Phaeton, Gould . Vol. III. Pi. 83. 
237. Estrelda ruficauda, Gould Vol. III. PL 84. 
238. Estrelda modesta. 
Amadina modesta, Gould . . . . . . - . . . . . . Vol. III. PL 85. 
Genus Amadina, Sivains. 
239. Amadina Lathami . . . . . . . Vol. III. PL 86. 
240. Amadina castanotis, Gould . . . . . ■. . . . . . . Vol. Ill, PL 87. 
Genus Poephila, Gould. 
Generic characters. 
Bill considerably swollen at the base, rendering it nearly as deep and broad as it is long ; wings moderately long, 
the first quill rudimentary, the four next equal in length ; feet plantigrade, toes slender ; the middle toe much longer 
than the lateral ones, which are equal in length ; hind-toe much shorter than the middle one ; tail strictly cuneiform, 
the two middle feathers much produced. 
241. Poephila Gouldice. 
Amadina Gouldise, Gould . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. III. PL 88. 
242. Poephila mirabilis, Homb. et Jacq. ........... Vol. III. PL 89. 
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