I/O 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
whistling song; it will then drop suddenly, always turning over backwards 
in its descent to cover. 
Nest .—A shallow, cup-shaped structure, composed of fine grasses; 
lined with finer grasses. Usually placed in a small bush or tree, up to 
15 feet or more from the ground. 
Eggs . —Two or three, pale yellowish-white, well marked all over with 
spots and specks of dark umber and dull slate-grey. Breeding-season: 
October to February (June and July). 
10. Firetail Finch Zonaeginthus bellus Latham 
Z dn-a e-gintli -us* —L., zona, band; Gk, aigintha, a kind of bird: bell’-us 
—L., bellus, beautiful. 
Distribution. —New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tas¬ 
mania, and Kangaroo Island. 
Notes .—Also called Beautiful Firetail Finch. In pairs or small 
parties, frequenting heath and low-lying scrub-lands; rarely far from 
water. It is a shy and silent bird, keeping to the undergrowth and tall 
glasses. Call-note, a low, plaintive whistle; this species is sometimes 
seen in the company of the Red-browed Finch. Food: seeds insects 
and small snails. 
, lc ? n &> bottle-shaped structure, placed on its side, composed 
of thin dried and green grasses and a few leaves; lined with fine grass and 
a few feathers or other soft materials. Usually placed in the thick foliage 
of a bush or tree. 
September”"to^ January. 10 *»“* "’ hite ' Breeding-season: 
11. Red-eared Firetail Finch Zonaeginthus oculatus Quoy and Gaimard 
oc-u-la-tus —L., oculatus, marked with eyes. 
Brener B t a^'° M '“ SOUth " WeStern Australia ’ from Cape Naturaliste to 
pairs^frenuentino- Red ‘ ea t red Finc h and Zebra Finch. Usually in I 
keeping to the imde^owth^ ^ 
Food: seeds, insects, andsmalltat * ^ Win - win ' wl ™ 
posed of^reeii C!< ?' ^ otd ?'Shaped structure, placed on its side, com- I 
nest is without lining 1 TT Se ^ lth s ^ enc ^ er rounded stems being chosen ; the 
branch oT Tol B ^ y pIaccd at the extremity of a horizontal 
orZlnlrSt 3 ” 1 ™- ° r °" ,Cr bush ' « Wits up 15 W 
Eggs- Four to six, pure white 
December, sometimes later. 
Breeding-season: August to 
wiow rT mUr Mellon* nov*-h„Ua,uli<z Lotto" 
Holland. ' meh ‘ bonc >' ; Gk > ornis . bird: Hovte-hollandm-oi Ntw 
Wata, Vic». 
