THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
196 
PLATE XXV 111 
BIRDS OF THE REED-BEDS AND GRASS-LANDS 
1. Black-ringed Finch Steganopleura annulosa Gould 
Steg-an-o-pleur-a — Gk, steganos, covered; Gk, pleura , side: an-nu-lo-sa 
— L., annul osus, ringed. 
Distribution. — North-western Australia and Northern Territory. 
Notes. — Also called Black-rumped Double-bar. Usually in pairs or 
flocks, frequenting grass-lands bordering watercourses. It is generally 
seen in tall grass or low thickets It has a few notes which are uttered 
in an undertone. Food : seeds of grasses and herbaceous plants. 
Nest . — A bottle-shaped structure, composed of dried grasses; lined 
with finer materials. Generally placed in an exposed situation in a low 
bush. 
Eggs. — Four to six, white. Breeding-season: February to June, and 
July to December. 
2. Banded Finch Steganopleura bichenovii Vigors and Horsfield 
biclienovii — Bicheno, a secretary of the Linnean Society, London, 1826. 
Distribution. — Tropical northern Australia to New South Wales. 
Notes . — Also called Double-bar, White-rumped Double-bar, White- 
rumped Banded Finch, Owl-faced Finch, and Bicheno’s Finch. Usually 
in pairs or flocks, frequenting grass-lands bordering watercourses and 
plains, particularly those intersected with low scrubby bushes. It is a 
friendly bird and is generally seen feeding on the seeds of grasses and 
other plants, and also on figs and berries. Its song is very like that of 
the Black-ringed Finch. 
Nest . — A bottle-shaped structure, composed of dried grasses; lined 
with feathers and other soft materials. Generally built in a small bush 
or in tall grass. 
Eggs . — Four to eight, white. Breeding-season: under normal con- 
ditions, July to December. 
3. Zebra Finch Tceniopygia castanotis Gould — 3A. Female 
Tcen-i-o-pyg-i-a — Gk, tainia, band ; Gk, pyge , rump, tail : cas-tan-ot'-is — 
Gk, castanon, chestnut; Gk, otos, genitive of ous, ear. 
Distribution. — Australia generally. 
