_J. & E. Gould del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
ESTRELDA BICHENOVII.
Bicheno’s Finch.
_Fringilla Bichenovii_, Vig. & Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p.
258.—Jard. and Selb. Ill. Orn., vol. i. pl. xii. fig. 3.
This beautiful little Finch inhabits the extensive plains of the
interior, particularly such portions of them as are thinly intersected
with low scrubby trees and bushes. The localities in which my specimens
were obtained were the Liverpool and Brezi Plains, and I have not yet
received it from any other parts of Australia, but this may be
attributed rather to the paucity of information respecting the interior
than to any other cause; and as I have had occasion to remark with
respect to other species, it will be impossible to determine the precise
extent of the range of this bird until the country has been more fully
explored.
The Bicheno’s Finch is very tame in its disposition, and is generally to
be observed on the ground, occupied in procuring the seeds of the
grasses and other small plants, which form its principal food. At the
time of my visit to the interior, which was in the month of December, it
was assembled in small flocks of from four to eight in number; these,
when flushed from among the grasses, would perch on the neighbouring
bushes rather than fly off to any distance, and indeed the form of its
wings and tail indicate that it possesses lesser powers of flight than
many of the other Finches.
I was not fortunate enough to obtain its nest or eggs, neither did I
ever hear it utter any kind of song; consequently I am unable to give
any information on these points.
The male has the face, ear-coverts and throat pure white, completely
surrounded by a band of black, which is broadest on the forehead; crown
of the head, nape of the neck, and back broccoli-brown, each feather
crossed by numerous transverse lines of a lighter tint; upper part of
the rump black; lower part of the rump and upper tail-coverts
snow-white; wings black, all the feathers except the primaries
beautifully spotted with white; chest greyish white tinged with buff,
bounded below by a broadish band of jet-black; abdomen and flanks buffy
white; under tail-coverts and tail black; irides black, surrounded by a
narrow black lash; bill beautiful pale blue.
The sexes, although having a similar character of marking, may be
distinguished from each other by the male having the black bands of the
chest and throat broader, and its plumage more brilliant. The young also
at an early age possess the characteristic markings of the adult.
The Plate represents a male and a female of the natural size.
[Illustration:
ESTRELDA ANNULOSA: _Gould_.
_J. & E. Gould del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
ESTRELDA ANNULOSA, _Gould_.
Black-rumped Finch.
_Amadina annulosa_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VII. p. 143.
This species was one of several, collected by the Officers of H.M.S. the
Beagle, and for the specimens from which my figures were taken I am
indebted to Messrs. Bynoe and Dring. The bird has also been more
recently brought to England by Captain Grey: all the specimens here
alluded to were collected on the north-west coast, and I find it is not
unfrequently seen on the Coburg Peninsula, where it inhabits the grassy
banks of running streams, in small families of from six to ten in
number.
It differs from Bicheno’s Finch in the spots and markings on the upper
surface being rather less defined, and in the colouring of the rump,
which in this species is black, while in the other it is white.
Face, ear-coverts and throat white, surrounded by a jet-black band,
which is broadest on the forehead; chest greyish white, bounded below by
a conspicuous band of black; lower part of the abdomen white; crown of
the head, back of the neck, and back greyish brown marked with numerous
fine transverse lines of greyish white; rump, upper and under
tail-coverts and tail black; wings blackish brown, the secondaries and
coverts thickly dotted with fine markings of greyish white; bill and
feet lead-colour.
The figures are those of a male and a female of the natural size.
[Illustration: