170 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
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 Zonaeginthus bellus Latham 
Zon-ae-ginth'-us— L., zona, band; Gk, aigintha , a kind of bird: belV-us 
— L., bellus , beautiful. 
distribution. New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tas¬ 
mania, and Kangaroo Island. 
notes. 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. 
notes. 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. 
nest. 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 hori¬ 
zontal 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-orn'-is— Gk, meli, honey; Gk, ornis , bird: novce-hollandice—at 
New Holland. 
distribution. Southern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria 
South and south-western Australia, and Tasmania. 
notes. Also called Jew-bird, New Holland Honey-eater, and Yellow 
