170 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
whistling song ; it will then drop suddenly, always turning over backwards 
in its descent to cover. 
Nest. — A shallow, cup-shaped structure, composed of fine grasses; 
lined with finer grasses. Usually placed in a small bush or tree, up to 
15 feet or more from the ground. 
Eggs . — Two or three, pale yellowish-white, well marked all over with 
spots and specks of dark umber and dull slate-grey. Breeding-season: 
October to February (June and July). 
10. Firetail Finch Zonae ginthus bellus Latham 
Zon-ae-gintli-us — L., zona, band; Gk, aigintha, a kind of bird: belt -us 
— L., bellus, beautiful. 
Distribution. — New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tas- 
mania, and Kangaroo Island. 
Dotes. — Also called Beautiful Firetail Finch. In pairs or small 
parties, frequenting heath and low-lying scrub-lands; rarely far from 
water. It is a shy and silent bird, keeping to the undergrowth and tall 
grasses. Call-note, a low, plaintive whistle; this species is sometimes 
seen in the company of the Red-browed Finch. Food: seeds, insects, 
and small snails. 
Nest. — A long, bottle-shaped structure, placed on its side, composed 
of thin dried and green grasses and a few leaves ; lined with fine grass and 
a few feathers or other soft materials. Usually placed in the thick foliage 
of a bush or tree. 
Eggs. — From five to eight, usually five, pure white. Breeding-season: 
September to January. 
11. Red-eared Firetail Finch Zonaeginthus oculatus Quoy and Gaimard 
oc-u-la-tus — L., oculatus, marked with eyes. 
Distribution. — South-western Australia, from Cape Naturaliste to 
Bremer Bay. 
Dotes. — Also called Red-eared Finch and Zebra Finch. Usually in 
pairs, frequenting swampy heath-lands ; it is secretive in habits, . always 
keeping to the undergrowth. Its call-note is a soft ‘‘Win-win-win-win. ” 
Food : seeds, insects, and small snails. 
Dest. — A well-made, bottle-shaped structure, placed on its side, com- 
posed of green grasses, those with slender rounded stems being chosen ; the 
nest is without lining. Usually placed at the extremity of a horizontal 
branch of a low swamp banksia, or other bush, at heights up to 15 feet 
or more from the ground. 
Eggs. — Four to six, pure white. Breeding-season : August to 
December, sometimes later. 
12. White-bearded Honey-eater Meliornis novce-hollandice Latham 
Mel-i-orri-is — Gk, meli, honey; Gk, ornis, bird: nova-hollandice — of New 
Holland. 
Distribution. — Southern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, 
South and south-western Australia, and Tasmania. 
