_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del^t._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
DONACOLA PECTORALIS, _Gould_.
White-breasted Finch.
_Amadina pectoralis_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VIII. p. 127.
For two beautiful specimens of this entirely new Finch I am indebted to
E. Dring, Esq., of the Beagle, who procured them on the north-west coast
of Australia: no notes of their habits or economy having been forwarded
with the specimens, I am unable to give any particulars respecting them.
In structure and in the general disposition of its markings, the
White-breasted Finch offers a considerable resemblance to the _Donacola
castaneothorax_ of the eastern coast, and in all probability they are
analogues of each other, in accordance with a law which appears very
generally to prevail among the birds of Australia; each great division
of this vast country having its own peculiar species.
Crown of the head, all the upper surface and wings delicate greyish
brown; the tips of the wing-coverts very minutely spotted with white;
tail blackish brown; throat and ear-coverts glossy blackish purple;
chest crossed by a band of feathers, black at the base, largely tipped
with white; abdomen and under tail-coverts vinous grey; flanks
ornamented with a few feathers similar to those crossing the breast;
bill bluish horn-colour; feet flesh-colour.
The figures in the Plate are of the natural size, and are supposed to
represent the two sexes; the principal figure the male.
[Illustration:
DONACOLA FLAVIPRYMNA: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
DONACOLA FLAVIPRYMNA, _Gould_.
Yellow-rumped Finch.
_Donacola flaviprymna_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part xiii. p.
80.
A single specimen, and the only one I have ever seen of this pretty
Finch, was presented to me by Benjamin Bynoe, Esq., Surgeon, R.N., who
procured it on the banks of the Victoria River during the late surveying
voyage of H.M.S. Beagle. It is very nearly allied to the _Donacola
castaneothorax_, but is specifically distinct from that as well as from
every other known species of this now numerous tribe of birds. I regret
to add that nothing whatever is known of its habits or mode of life; but
in these respects it doubtless as closely assimilates to its congeners
as it does in form.
Head pale fawn-colour; back and wings light chestnut-brown; under
surface buff; upper tail-coverts wax-yellow; under tail-coverts black;
tail brown.
The figures are of the natural size.
[Illustration:
EMBLEMA PICTA: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del^t._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
EMBLEMA PICTA, _Gould_.
Painted Finch.
_Emblema picta_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., 1842.
This beautiful Finch is a native of the north-west coast of Australia,
where it was procured by B. Bynoe, Esq. The single individual sent me by
that gentleman, and which I have drawn in two different positions, was
unaccompanied by any account whatever of its habits and economy; but we
may reasonably infer from the lengthened and pointed form of its bill,
that the kind of food upon which it subsists will be somewhat different
from that of the other Australian Finches. My readers will not fail to
observe how singular is the disposition of the colouring in the present
bird, the under parts being extremely beautiful, while on the upper,
which is generally the most highly ornamented, a more than ordinary
degree of plainness prevails.
Face and throat deep vermilion red; the base of all the feathers of the
throat black, giving that part a mingled appearance of black and red;
crown of the head, all the upper surface and wings brown; rump deep
vermilion red; tail dark brown; chest and all the under surface
jet-black, the flanks numerously spotted with white, and the centre of
the abdomen dashed with deep vermilion red; feet light red; upper
mandible black, under mandible scarlet, with a triangular patch of black
at the base.
The figures are of the natural size.
------------------------------------------------------------------------