GOULDIAN FINCH. 
Nest. Is a bottle-sliaped structure, composed of dried grasses and placed in a variety of 
situations—in tall grass, bush, small tree, or in the hollow limb of a tree. 
Breeding-months. August to December, and some seasons as late as March, April and 
May. 
Every ornithologist agrees with Gould’s explanation: “ It was with 
feelhigs of the purest affection that I ventured to dedicate this lovely bird to 
the memory of my late wife, who for many years laboriously assisted me Avith 
her pencil, accompanied me to Australia, and cheerfully interested herself 
hi all my pursuits.” The dedication of this bii’d to Mrs. Gould’s memorj’’ 
viU surely then receive the sanction of every scientific ornithologist. 
The PoephiUx gouldice was discovered by Gilbert on Greenhill Island at 
the head of Van Diemen’s Gulf, “ where it inhabited the edges of the mangroves 
and thickets; when disturbed it hivariably flew' to the topmost branches of 
the loftiest gums, a habit I have not before observed in any other member of 
the genus. Its note is a very mournful somid added to a double twit. Those 
I observed were feeding among the high gi’ass in small families of from four 
to seven in niunber, and were very shy. The stomach is tolerably muscular, 
and the food consists of grass and other seeds.” More recently, the late Mr. 
Elsey observed it m great abundance on the Victoria River. Gould then 
added P. mirabilis as a distinct species, observing: “ Some ornithologists have 
entertained the opinion that the P. mirabilis and the P. gouldice were one and 
the same species, but that such is not the case has been proved by the researches 
of the late Mr. Elsey, who lived for some time at the Victoria River, surrounded 
by hundreds of both these birds. This gentleman found them breeding, and 
collected many examples, which, all carefully labelled, are now in the national 
collection. Some of the black-headed ones, or P. gouldice, are labelled ‘ adult 
male ’; one is marked ‘ female obtained from the nest ’; there are also 
red-headed specimens labelled ‘ adult male ’ and ‘ adult female ’ and young 
birds which are totally different m coloming, being nearly uniform olive, without 
markings of any kind. Mr. Elsey uiformed me that he often saw the two 
species associated in large flocks.” 
i\Ir. J. P. Rogers has noted: “ Only one of this species seen at Mrmgi, 
in fact this was the only one seen during the whole trip and none were seen 
at Derby on my return. This is about the southern flmit of this bird’s range, 
altiiough I knoAv a bird-catcher who caught a few thirty miles out from 
Broome, which lies about 100 miles S.W. of Derby.” 
Rogers’ previous notes from the Fitzroy River, North-west Australia, 
were recorded by HaU: “ The scarlet-headed bird is not common, while I 
have not seen any of the yellow-headed variety. P. gouldice comes with 
VOL. XII. 
241 
