RED-FACED FINCH. 
the above result. I found the old nest near at hand and a few feet above, in 
the same prickly climbhig plant, was a new nest containing eggs. Still liigher 
up the vine was an old nest of Toeniopygia, and a second one evidently 
untenanted, but the thorns were too much for me, and I had to leave it 
alone. The call of the Red-faced Finch is very feeble and resembles some¬ 
what that of Zosterops gouldi. Like the other Finches, it must have plenty 
of water. The plmnage is a lovely combmation of delicate greens and 
buffs, reheved by the fiery vermilion face.” 
Probably the reason of Hall’s error hes in the Catalogue of the Birds 
in the British Museum, where Sharpe unfortunately confused certahi birds, 
and HaU has continued that error Avithout reference to the birds them¬ 
selves. The confusion of the young and adult female is apparently due to 
bad copying. 
Barnard, reporting upon the birds of the McArthui- River, Northern 
Territory, Avrote: “ These birds frequent the cane grass along the river; 
generally they were found in small flocks. They breed in the cane grass in 
June.” 
MacgiUiATay, recording notes on North Queensland birds, noted: “ IVIr. 
McLemian met Avith the Red-faced Finch on the Watson River. On the 
22nd April, 1915, he flushed one from its nest placed in a stunted gum 
sapling, three feet from the ground; the nest contained five eggs. The birds 
Avere quite common.” 
Neither MacgiUivray nor Barnard report it from Cape York. 
When Hall examined Rogers’ birds from the Fitzroy River, N.W.A., he 
noted: “ This adult male agrees in certain respects Avith Mx. Hartert’s 
Bathilda ruficauda clarescens. The red is extending over the croAATi, and is 
strong upon the lateral portions of it and aroimd the eye. There is no red 
upon the lower portion of the throat. The abdomen is yellow, but scarcely 
bright yellow: Aving 5.3 mm.” 
No subspecies were knoAAUi imtil Hartert described 
Bathilda ruficauda clarescens. 
“ An adult male, Cape York, 14/6/1898, is smaller than all examples in 
our collection ; the red extends nearly over the Avhole croAvn, encircles the 
eye, and extends further doAvn on the throat, and the abdomen is rather 
bright yelloAV. Whig 50, tail 45 mm.” 
However, Avhen I Avas engaged upon my “ Reference List ” in 1912 I 
distinguished five subspecies as follows, placing them in the genus Mgintha : 
Mginlha rtificauda ruficauda (Gould). 
New South Wales. 
Mgintha ruficauda connectens Mathews. 
229 
