THE



Avicultural Magazine


THE JOURNAL OF THE

AVICULTURAL SOCIETY



Fifth Series. — Vol. I. —No. 4. —All rights reserved.



APRIL, 1936.



THE PECTORAL FINCH


(Munia pectoralis (Gould))


The Pectoral Finch, known to the bird-dealers as “ Pectorella ”,

inhabits northern Australia where, together with the numerous other

small Finches which come from that region, it is sometimes very

numerous and at others scarce, according to the season of the ripening

of the grass-seed ; while in times of drought it is said to frequent

the coastal regions and appear in large numbers at the drinking pools.


This handsome Finch seems to have been first imported into this

country in 1896 when it caused quite a sensation amongst aviculturists.

Subsequently fair numbers arrived though it has always been regarded

as a somewhat uncommon bird and in the last few years appears to

have become rare. The first to breed it in this country was Mrs. Howard

Williams who successfully reared a brood in 1905 from a nest made

in a rush basket, and published an account of the event in this magazine

of December, 1905.


D. S-S.



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