THE



Avicultural Magazine


THE JOURNAL OF THE

AVICULTURAL SOCIETY



Fourth Series.—V ol. XL-—No. 11 .—All rights reserved. NOVEMBER, 1933.



THE RED-EARED FIRETAIL FINCH


('Zonaginthns oculatus)


By H. V. Highman, R.A.O.U. (Hon. Secretary, Avicultural Society

of Western Australia)


Description .—General colour, above olive brown, finely barred with

blackish brown, the bars becoming closer towards the head ; rump

bright red, tail feathers olive and barred with blackish brown ; lores

a narrow line and feathers around the eye black ; patch behind the

eye crimson ; chin, throat, and upper breast yellowish olive, finely

barred with blackish brown ; remainder of under parts black with

white spots ; bill vermilion. Length about 4 inches.


As far as I am aware, I am the only aviculturist in Australia to

have this bird in captivity. I therefore feel competent to state my

observations to date.


The only place in Australia where this bird can be found is, practically,

one spot in the extreme south-west of this State, the maximum

temperature in summer being 80° and the minimum in winter 45°.

I tried for years to procure this bird (it is extremely rare) but without

success. I financed a trapper last year and in three months his efforts

resulted in sixteen birds only ! This species is mostly seen singly and

never more than a pair together. Their natural haunts are about



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