THE



Avicultural Magazine


THE JOURNAL OF THE

AVICULTURAL SOCIETY



Fifth Series.- —Vol. I.—No. 8 .—All rights reserved. AUGUST, 1936.



THE CHESTNUT-BREASTED FINCH


Munia castaneothorax


The Chestnut-breasted Finch occurs throughout the greater part

<of tropical Northern Australia, extending to the east as far as New

South Wales. Several local races have been described, one of which,

M. lepidothorax cayley, from the Northern Territories, is figured in

our plate.


In the past this species has been imported into Europe in some

numbers, and has proved fairly hardy and been bred on several

occasions.


The nest is an untidy domed structure composed of grass, and

generally built in a thick bush or nesting box. Four or five eggs are

laid, incubation occupying about fourteen days.


Canary and millet seed form its principal diet in captivity, but

green food, such as chickweed and flowering grass, is also necessary,

.and insectivorous food when young are being reared.


This is a handsome species and a typical Mannikin, closely allied

to the Yellow-rumped Finch, M. flaviprymna, with which it probably

occasionally produces hybrids in the wild state.


D. S-S.



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