THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
198 
6. Star Finch Bathilda ruficauda Gould 
Bath-il'-da —from a girl’s name (Fr.), relation or sister of Prince Lucien 
Bonaparte: ru-fi-caiid'-a —L., rufus, red; L., cauda, tail. 
Distribution .—Northern Australia, as far south as New South Wales 
on the east and the Coongan River on the west. 
Notes .—Also called Red-faced Finch and Red-tailed Finch. Usually 
in pairs or flocks, frequenting chiefly grass-lands bordering watercourses. 
It is generally seen on the ground searching for the seeds of grasses and 
other plants. It has a feeble call-note, somewhat like that of the Grey¬ 
breasted Silver-eye. 
Nest —A bottle-shaped structure, composed of dried grasses; lined 
with fine grasses and feathers. Generally placed in a low tree or a bush. 
Eggs .—Three to five, white. Breeding-season: probably September 
to January. 
7. Blue-faced Finch Erythura trichroa Kittlitz 
E-ryth-ur-a —Gk, erythos, red; Gk, lira (oura ), tail: tri-chro-a—G k, 
tri, three; Gk, chroa, colour. 
Distribution. Northern Queensland (Cape York to Cairns district); 
also occurs in the Alolucca Islands, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New 
Hebrides, Loyalty Islands, Caroline Islands, and Bismarck Archipelago. 
Notes. Also called Tricoloured Parrot-finch. Only four records are 
known of the occurrence of this Finch in Australia. Probably these 
records are of stragglers as this species has not otherwise been observed. 
In the islands they are plentiful, and congregate in pairs or flocks, and 
nest in the gardens of the settlers and natives. 
roun ded structure, with a small entrance at the side, 
fn^ S K d ° f • flbre ° r gmSS; lined with soft materials. Generally placed 
in shrubs or m mango trees. J v 
Eggs - Three to six, white. Breeding-season: not recorded. 
8. Plum-headed Finch Aidemosyne modesta Gould 
modest WS '~ ynS ~ Gk ’ aidemos y ne > modesty: mod-est'-Or- L., modestus, 
Distribution.— From Queensland to Victoria. 
i-nrh t^T A, V° C ^? ec l Modest Finch, Cherry Finch, Plain-coloured 
-rassdamk ?' Fmch ’ UsuaI1 - v in . P air s or small flocks, frequenting 
seen fppflino- , the °P en a reas bordering watercourses. It is generally 
other olants* 3 TTf 01 * ?' . near tlle S rou nd on the seeds of grasses and 
does not nnw? fi ? - 1S , mu ?h duller in coloration than the male, and 
aoes not possess the blackish chin. 
with JeatherVi^T structure, composed of dried grasses; lined 
b us h ’ tay built in tall grass, among thistles, or in a low 
JanuST'~ FiVe t0 S6Ven ’ White ’ Breeding-season: September to 
