THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Nest. A bottle-shaped structtire, placed on its side, composed of tliin dried grasses, and 
lined with fine grass, feathers, fur, etc. Generally placed in a thick cluster of 
foliage in a bush or tree. Dimensions over all ; 10 to 12 inches long by 18 inches 
or more in circumference at widest portion. 
Breeding-months. September to January. 
Although described twice from the Lambert and Watling drawings, the only 
note given by Watling is ^ Native name Wee-bong. Natural size, the only one 
yet seen. May.” 
Gould’s field-notes are the first published, and these read : “ Tasmania 
may be considered the principal habitat of this species, for it is universally 
and numerously dispersed over all parts of that island suited to its habits and 
economy. It also inhabits New South Wales, but is there far less abundant. 
I generally observed it in small communities varying from six to a dozen in 
nmnber, searching on the groimd for the seeds of grasses and other small plants 
wMch grow on the plains and open parts of the forest. It also frequents the 
gardens and pleasure grounds of the settlers, with whom it is a favourite, few 
birds being more tame or more beautifully coloured than this little Finch; 
the brilliant scarlet of the rump and the base of the tail-feathers strongly con¬ 
trasting with the more sombre hue of the body. Its flight is extremely rapid 
and arrow-like, particularly when crossing a plam or passing down a guUey. 
It is a stationary species in Tasmania and probably also in New South Wales. 
In the former country I constantly found it breedhig m communities. . . . 
It breeds from September to January, during which period two or tluee broods 
are reared. Its note is a single mournful sound emitted while perched on the 
low branches of the trees in the neighbom-hood of its feeding-places.” 
Captaui S. A. White ^vrites : “ Is not a common bird ; small parties are 
met ^vith in the southern part of South Australia, and of course the subspecies 
on Kangaroo Island, but they are not common there. Tliis bird loves the 
low-lying swampy ground and wfil be found m the tliick cutting grass and 
the swmmp-loviiig Leptos'purnum much after the tea-tree in habit. Like so 
many other Fmches, this one builds a large nest of dry grass. The breeding- 
season is September and October, and the note is low and mournful.” 
Mr. Frank E. Howe has written: “ During the season of 1907-1908 and 
in the months of October to January, this beautiful Finch was noticed in the 
scrubs at Femtree Gully. It was always seen close to the water and appeared to 
be feeding in the Mimosa and Wiregrass and was never flushed from the ground.” 
Mr. A. G. Campbell has written : ‘ Ts a rare bird to meet about the foothills 
of the Dandenong Ranges.” 
Mr. J. W. MeUor’s notes read: ‘‘I have seen tliis bird in Vietoria, also 
in the south-east of South Austraha. I noted it sparsely wlule visiting the 
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