THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
were obtained on the Liverpool and Brezi Plains. The Bicheno’s Fitich is very 
tame in its disposition, and is generally to be observed on the ground, occupied 
in procuring the seeds of the grasses and other small plants, which form 
its principal food. When I visited the interior in the month of December, it 
was assembled in small flocks of from four to eight in number; these, when 
flushed from among the grasses, would perch on the neighbouring bushes rather 
than fly off to any distance, and indeed the form of its wongs and tail indicate 
that it possesses lesser powers of flight than many of the other Finches.” 
Bemey wrote from the Richmond district. North Queensland: “This 
species only comes to us in the worst of bad times, leaving again as soon as the 
drought breaks. I do not thuik it ever nests here.” 
Capt. S. A. White WTites : “ Were met wdth in large flocks near Daly Water; 
they were feeding in the long grass along a creek bank; after the manner of 
many of the Finch tribe they were fl 3 dng up and dovai from the ground into 
the shrubs, calling insistently in their sharp httle note; did not see any signs 
of nesting in May and June. Met wdth the Queensland white-rumped variety 
several times ; they seem to frequent the clearings and open spaces in scrub 
country. Found these birds very plentiful in and around the Incbil Forest 
north of Brisbane.” 
Macgilhvray has witten : “ Many of these birds in the Gulf country. 
Several nests were found in and after the wet season, the usual clutch being 
four to six. The nests on the Cloncurry River were usually composed of fine 
rootlets and placed in the tea-tree. At Augustus Dovtis, on the Leichliardt, 
they were building in the cane grass. Here they w^ere nesting freely in June. 
On the Gregory River they were still nesting in July.” 
Later he added: “ When at Cooktowui, on our way up the coast, 
we noticed several Banded Finches in some small trees near the wharf. 
They w'ere common on the Archer River in June, wdiere several nests 
containing eggs were found. They were also nesting in April on the Watson.” 
Gould described this species, WTiting: “ Was one of several, collected by 
the officers of H.M.S. ‘ Beagle,’ and for the specimens from wliich my descrip¬ 
tions were taken I am indebted to Messrs. Bynoe and Bring. The bird has 
also been brought to England by Sir George Grey; all these specimens were 
collected on the north-west coast, and it is not imfrequently seen on the Cobourg 
Peninsula, where it inhabits the grassy banks of running streams, in small 
famihes of from six to ten in number.” 
Ml’. J. P. Rogers’ notes read: “ About the 9th Aug., 1908, I had all the 
ch’y grass, herbage, etc., cleared a^vay from round my house for a distance 
of seven yards; three days afterwards there were fully fifty Finches 
(5. annulosa) gathered to feed on the seed that had been exposed. 
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