flAT'ClML MJSF IJV 
PAINTED FINCH. 
Goldfields. I have never seen it near the coast in West Kimberley; the 
nearest point I liave found it resident is Mount Anderson, Fitzroy River, 
wliich is sixty miles inland. Here at certain springs one can usually see a 
few birds by watching the water. Stragglers have been caught in Derby 
by trappers.” 
Keartland has vTitten from Central Australia : “ These beautiful Finches 
were first fomid iu the rocky gorges of MclMinn’s Range, and subsequently at 
Stokes’ Pass, Glen of Palms, and Bagot’s Spring. They are very timid and 
somewhat difficult to approaeh. Although there is no sexual difference in 
plumage, they vary \vith age. The scarlet patch, so conspicuous on the 
breasts of adults, is almost or entirely absent on the young ones, and the rich 
black on the under-parts of the mature birds is also replaced by a smoky 
black on the yomig. The eyes of the adults being wliite, give the live birds a 
remarkable appearance.” 
Hall, recording Rogers’ birds from the Fitzroy River, North-west Australia, 
observed: “ The amount of red upon the breast of the March female is almost 
as great in quantity as on that of the male. The April female is much paler 
upon the back than the other. Rogers vnites : ‘ On 29/4 00 I found a nest 
of this species in a bunch of spinifex. It contained one egg. Four days 
later the nest was tom away and the eggs gone, which was probably the work 
of a Hawk or lizard. So tame is tliis species that two came to the camp and 
had a drink from the bucket. On 5th November I met it for the first time here 
(Livuringa). My experience so far is that it keeps near the lulls.’ ” 
Wliitlock’s account from the Pilbarra Goldfield reads : “ Native name 
‘ Nee-murri.’ Confined to the ranges or their immediate neighbourhood. I 
first made its acquaintance at the crossing of Gorge Creek, where a few haimted 
the rocky hills adjacent to the creek. Like the other Finches, this species 
must have water, and comes down from the rocks with great regularity for 
its drink. It appears to be gregarious at all times. Even in the breeding- 
season I met with flocks of a dozen or more. Possibly these may have been 
non-breeding males, for the latter sex is more in evidence that the female in 
this species. I found one nest on 12th May, and a day or two later observed 
another pair collecting building material. The nest is invariably built ha a 
tuft of ‘ buck ’ sphiifex, and usually near the top of the tuft. They may be 
found near the river, amongst the ranges, or agahi on the big flats, provided 
water is near at hand. The nests are rather bulky, and loosely constructed 
of dead pieees of spinifex, vdth a liiaing of brown vegetable dowia, and often 
with a further bed of Avliite vegetable down. The eggs are commonly three in 
number, but no doubt sometimes four are laid. They are pure wliite, and very 
small and fragile. The female is a close sitter. The plumage of the latter 
VOL. xn. 
185 
