The ADMIRABLE CHAFF-FINCH (_Chloëbia mirabilis_) is the species we select
for description, being a bird of surpassing brilliancy as regards the
coloration of its plumage. The top and sides of the head are bright red;
the throat black, as are the edges of the feathers at the back of the
head; the neck is surrounded by a line of sky-blue, which is narrowest
in front, and white on the nape, where it shades into a yellowish green,
blending with the mantle, which is of the green usually seen in Parrots.
The rump and upper tail-covers are pale blue, the quills of the wings
bordered with yellowish brown; the exterior tail-feathers light blue,
whilst those in the middle are dark grey or black. On the lower part of
the body the sky-blue ring around the throat is bordered with a broad
line of lilac, which, increasing in size, passes over the breast, and is
separated from the yellow belly by a narrow line of orange. The female
resembles her mate, but is rather paler, and the middle tail-feathers are
shorter than in the male.
This magnificent creature was first seen in the vicinity of Raffles Bay,
Australia, but only three specimens were obtained, and no information
acquired as to its habits. Macgillivray tells us that the CHLOËBIA
GOULDII is only this species in another coat, and mentions having seen
a flock of them in the neighbourhood of Port Essington, no two of
which were alike in plumage, the greater number not having arrived at
their full beauty; many still retained the black or partially black
feathers on the top of the head, whilst in some this part was of a
beautiful red, thus making it evident that these two birds, which had
been considered as distinct species, must now be looked upon as one and
the same. In their habits the Australian Finches are like the rest of
their congeners, frequenting such parts of the country as are covered
with reeds, and situated at no great distance from the banks of a river,
seeking for seeds upon the ground, and climbing up and down the reeds
with the dexterity of Titmice. They are sometimes seen in flocks, but
are not as social as the rest of their family; they show no fear in
their intercourse with man, and are constant visitors to the fields and
gardens, occasionally taking more or less lengthy excursions over the
surrounding country. Their nests are described as differing much in
construction, some resembling those of Bottletits, being placed among
reeds, whilst others are built on trees in the immediate vicinity of the
eyries of birds of prey. Gould mentions having seen one of these nests
placed partially within the gaping hole of a tree that had been selected
as the home of a family of WEDGE-TAILED EAGLES (_Uroaëtos sphænurus_),
and tells us that the little male was perching without any sign of
fear on the same branch as his formidable but certainly very friendly
neighbour.
[Illustration: THE RICE BIRD (_Padda oryzivora_).]