THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
about six feet from the ground; upon giving it a knock with a tomahawk, 
out flew about a dozen of these birds, so evidently roost hi hollow branches 
They are great drinkers, and are very seldom found far away from water.” 
Mr. Edwin Ashby’s note reads: “ In 1886 I do not think this species 
occurred near Adelaide, but they used to breed m a Kangaroo-Furze hedge at 
Red Creek about thirty miles distant and due east of Adelaide at the foot of 
the Moimt Lofty Ranges ; for some fifteen years now they have bred freely 
in the Kangaroo-Furze hedges near Adelaide and were numerous near Mannmn 
in October (1910). This Finch has a striking wheezing note wliich is very 
distinctive when once heard.” 
Mr. J. W. Mellor has sent me: “ This bird, called the Zebra Finch,is the 
commonest and most widely spread of the Austrahan Finches, bemg found hi 
every imaginable locality from the verdant country with rich grass and flowing 
streams with good, fertile soil, aU along the sandy coast hne and shores of the 
sea, right into the arid ulterior of the Continent. They go m flocks in great 
numbers and I have also seen them m httle coveys of eight or ten. They 
make a plamtive little call of ‘ tint-tint, tmt-tuit,’ uttered in a sharp, short 
manner like striking a tightly strained wire fence with a knife. The nesting¬ 
time on the Adelaide Plains is from September to January, but in the arid 
interior of Australia they breed at aU and various times according to the 
radnfaU, as while travelling out from Tarcoola tow^ards the West Australian 
border in June 1912 I fomid nests with large young almost ready to leave: 
these birds live on small gi’ass seeds and tlirive well m captivity.” 
Mr. A. G. Campbell has written me : “ While recorded for ‘ Australia 
generally ’ is not found hi Victoria south of the Dividhig Range, and only 
very occasionally m the open comitry of North-east Victoria.'" 
Mr. Sandland ivrites : “ Very common at Burra, South Australia, where 
although the full clutch is six eggs, have taken one nest of eight eggs and another 
under nest of Hieracidea orientalis contahmig seventeen eggs, no doubt 
combmation clutches.” 
Bemey has ^vritten from the Richmond district. North Queensland: 
“ During the eight or nine years previous to 1906, T. cmlanotis has been our 
most constant resident hi the bhd line, but tins year, one of our best seasons 
on record, when grass and herbage, and therefore, of course, seed, are m abun¬ 
dance, it has enthely left the district, disappearing as soon as the first general 
rains feU hi January, and so far (August) it has not shown up again. The 
contented mamier hi winch it adapts itself to chcumstances, together with its 
fecundity, will long ensure its behig among the sm’vivors hi the struggle for 
existence. Its nesthig operations are prolonged from June to January, but 
are carried out prhicipaUy from August to November. Among 30 or 40 records 
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