THE



Avicultural Magazine


THE JOURNAL OF THE

AVICULTURAL SOCIETY



Fifth Series. —Vol. I.—No. 2 .—All rights reserved. FEBRUARY, 1936.



THE WHITE-EARED GRASSFINCH


(Poephila leucotis)


(See coloured plate)


By David Seth-Smith


The White-eared Grassfinch (Poephila leucotis) appears to be so

closely allied to the Masked Grassfinch (P. personata) that it can hardly

be regarded as a distinct species, but rather as the representative of

that species occurring in the region of the Cape York Peninsula. In

habits and voice the two are alike, but P. leucotis is the more handsome

of the two, differing from P. personata in the lighter colour of the

chest, the richer cinnamon-brown of the upper surface and paler

shade of the under parts. The bill is also of a lighter yellow.


It is now many years since this beautiful Grassfinch was imported

to any extent. It has never been common in Europe, but in the early

days of this Society it was occasionally to be obtained.


The late Reginald Phillipps possessed some nearly forty years

ago, and published a very interesting account of their behaviour in

his aviary, in this Magazine for August and September, 1898. Several

nests were built, but no success in breeding was attained. Mr. L. W.

Hawkins was more successful, rearing two young in 1900, for which

he was awarded the Medal of the Society.


My own experience of the White-eared Grassfinch is confined to



