DONACICOLA HUNSTEINI, Finsch. 
Hunstein’s Weaver-Finch. 
Donacicola hmsteini , Finsch, Ibis, 1886, p. 1, pi. 1. 
This very distinct species of Weaver-Finch is one of tiie most interesting discoveries made by the well-known 
traveller Dr. Otto Finsch, during his expeditions to New Guinea and the islands of the South Seas. He 
met with the present bird in New Ireland, where, he says, “ it was discovered at the extreme north corner 
of the island. It lives in the high jungle-grass and is difficult to obtain.” 
The following is a description of the typical specimens, which are now in the British Museum : — 
Adult male. General colour above black, the rump and upper tail-coverts chestnut with a wash of golden 
yellow ; wing-coverts black like the hack ; bastard-wing, primary-coverts, and quills rather paler blackish 
brown edged with golden ; tail-feathers blackish brown, the centre ones golden towards the ends, like the upper 
tail-coverts ; crown of head, nape, and hind neck hoary grey, mottled with blackish bases to the feathers ; 
lores and feathers below the eye, eyelid, and fore part of checks black ; ear-coverts hoary grey like the head, 
a shade of the same colour overspreading the hinder cheeks ; throat and entire under surface of body velvety 
black ; under wing-coverts pale tawny huff, the edge of the wing black ; quills below blackish, pale tawny 
huff along the inner edge : “ hill and feet black ; iris dark ” ( 0 . Finsch). Total length 3'5 inches, culinen 
04, wing 2‘0, tail 1T5, tarsus 06. 
Adult female. Similar to the male in colour. Total length 3'5 inches, culmen 0'4, wing T9, tail T2, 
tarsus 055. 
Young. Brown, without any of the chestnut on the rump and tail, and only a slight indication of grey here 
and there on the head; side of face, cheeks, throat, and chest dark chocolate-brown, the breast and abdomen 
isabelline buff. 
The figures in the Plate represent an adult male and female, as well as a young bird. They are drawn 
from the typical examples described above. 
[R. B. S.] 
