196 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
PLATE XXVIII 
BIRDS OF THE REED-BEDS AND GRASS-LANDS 
1. Black-ringed Finch Steganopleura annulosa Gould 
Steg-an-o-pleur-a —Gk, steganos, covered; Gk, pleura, side: an-nu-lo-sa 
—L., annulosus, ringed. 
Distribution. —North-western Australia and Northern Territory. 
Notes .—Also called Black-rumped Double-bar. Usually in pairs or 
flocks, frequenting grass-lands bordering watercourses. It is generally 
seen in tall grass or low thickets. It has a few notes which are uttered 
in an undertone. Food: seeds of grasses and herbaceous plants. 
NesL —A bottle-shaped structure, composed of dried grasses; lined 
with finer materials. Generally placed in an exposed situation in a low 
bush. 
Eggs. Four to six, white. Breeding-season: February to Tune, and 
July to December. 
2. Banded Finch Steganopleura bichenovii Vigors and Horsfield 
bichenovii— Bicheno, a secretary of the Linnean Society, London, 1826. 
Distribution. Tropical northern Australia to New South Wales. 
„ Also called Double-bar, White-rumped Double-bar, White- 
rumped Banded Finch, Owl-faced Finch, and Bicheno’s Finch. Usually 
1-1 /y’ 15 0I ( . ° CvS ’ trec l uen ting grass-lands bordering watercourses and 
f rt T kr y - t lOSe in ^ ersectecl with low scrubby bushes. It is a 
other Jonf 1 * ai \ 1 f S ener ally seen feeding on the seeds of grasses and 
the'Bi&Hn^d K„ch° n %S and berrieS ' ItS s “* is fikc ** 
with^featiier^ ^°l td ff"] Sba ^ C f struc,u . re > composed of dried grasses; lined 
^r in Si grass r S ° matenaIs ' Generally built in a small bush 
ditions^JuTy'to' Dccemtfex.' Wh,t6 ' Breedin g-season: under normal con- 
3. Zebra Finch Tceniopygia castanotis Gould—3A. Female 
Gk’ 1 caff /JUT? ta }™ a > hand; Gk, pyge, rump, tail: cas-tan-ot'-is— 
Gk, cast anon, chestnut; Gk, otos, genitive of ous, ear. 
Distribution. —Australia generally. 
