_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del^t._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
ESTRELDA PHAETON.
Crimson Finch.
_Bengali Phaéton_ (_Fringilla phaeton_), Homb. et Jacq. Ann. des Sci.
Nat., tom. vi. p. 314.
_Ing-a-dȁm-oon_, Aborigines of Port Essington.
_Red Finch_, Residents of Port Essington.
In a paper addressed by MM. Hombron and Jacquinot to the Académie des
Sciences on the 9th of August, 1841, entitled, “_Déscription de
plusieurs Oiseaux nouveaux ou peu connus, provenant de l’expédition
autour du monde faite sur les corvettes l’Astrolabe et la Zélée_,” I
find the characters of a Finch, which, although the colouring does not
quite agree with that of the bird here figured, I have little doubt is
identical with it. I am the more inclined to consider them to be
identical from the circumstance of MM. Hombron and Jacquinot’s bird
having been collected at Raffles’ Bay, a locality closely bordering that
in which Mr. Gilbert procured the specimens in my own collection, and
who states that “this bird is an inhabitant of moist grassy meadows,
particularly where the _Pandanus_ (Screw Pine) is abundant. It is
generally found feeding among the grass, and when disturbed invariably
takes to those trees. From July to November it is to be observed in
large flocks, sometimes of several hundreds; but although great numbers
were shot during this period, not more than three or four were obtained
in the rich plumage. About the latter part of November they were either
in pairs or in small companies, not exceeding six in number; the males
decorated with their rich red and spotted dress.”
In its form it is in every respect closely allied to the _Estrelda
temporalis_ of the southern coast, and it doubtless as closely
assimilates in its actions, economy and nidification, of which at
present nothing is known.
The stomach is somewhat muscular, and the food consists of grass and
other small seeds.
Crown of the head deep bluish black; lores, line over the eye, sides of
the face and ear-coverts rich crimson red; under surface crimson red,
spotted on the flanks with white; centre of the abdomen and under
tail-coverts black; back of the neck and rump dark brownish grey; back
and wings brownish grey, each feather crossed near the extremity with a
band of deep crimson red; upper tail-coverts and two centre
tail-feathers deep red; the remainder deep red at the base, passing into
brown at the tip; bill rich carmine, bounded at the base by a band of
greyish white about one-tenth of an inch in breadth; hinder part of the
tarsi and inside of the feet ochre yellow; front of tarsi and upper
surface of the feet ochre yellow, strongly tinged with hyacinth-red.
The female, who is rather smaller than her mate, is brown above, a few
of the feathers on the back and the wing-coverts crossed with red as in
the male; lores, line over the eye, sides of the face, chin, upper
tail-coverts and tail as in the male, but not quite so brilliant; breast
and flanks greyish brown, the latter ornamented with a few small spots
of white; centre of the abdomen buff.
The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size.
[Illustration:
ESTRELDA RUFICAUDA: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter lithog._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
ESTRELDA RUFICAUDA, _Gould_.
Red-tailed Finch.
_Amadina ruficauda_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part IV. p. 106;
and in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part I.
I observed this beautiful Finch rather thinly dispersed on the sides of
the river Namoi, particularly along the sloping banks covered with
herbage, where it appeared to be feeding upon such grasses and other
annuals as afforded seeds congenial to its taste; I also frequently
observed it among the rushes which grow in the beds of mud along the
sides of the water; and this, I regret to say, is all the information I
have to communicate respecting it. It is a species seldom seen in
collections, which may be attributed to the circumstance of its being
strictly confined to the interior, a part of the country where
collections are much less frequently formed than near the coast. The
only parts of Australia whence I have received or in which I have killed
it, are the Liverpool Plains, and the banks of the rivers Mokai and
Namoi.
The adult male and female are scarcely to be distinguished by outward
appearance; the female is, however, a trifle less than her mate in size.
The young, on the contrary, present a very different appearance; the
whole of their plumage being of a uniform buffy brown; eye yellowish
olive surrounded by a narrow olive lash; bill reddish brown; legs
brownish yellow.
Face and cheeks scarlet, the latter covered with narrow feathers, which
are finely spotted with white at the tip; upper surface and wings
olive-brown; upper tail-coverts and tail deep crimson-brown, the former
having a large spot of pinkish white near the tip of each feather;
throat, chest and flanks delicate olive-grey, each feather having a
large oval white spot transversely disposed near the tip; centre of the
abdomen and under tail-coverts dirty yellowish white; bill scarlet;
irides orange slightly inclining to hazel, surrounded by a rather broad,
naked, flesh-coloured lash; legs and feet rather darker than fine
lemon-yellow.
The figures are of the natural size.
[Illustration: