ESTRELDA OCULEA.
Red-eared Finch.
Fringilla oculea, Quoy et Gaim. Voy. de l’Astrolabe, Zool., Part I. p. 211';: Ois., pi. 18. fig. 2.
Jee-ree, Aborigines of the lowland, and
Dwef-den-ngool-gnah-neer, Aborigines of the mountain districts of Western Australia.
Native Sparrow, Colonists of Swan River.
T h i s species is abundant in many parts o f the colony o f Swan River on the western coast, but has not as yet
been discovered elsewhere. Like its near ally the Estrelda bella i t inhabits open grassy glades studded with
thickets, particularly in moist swampy districts and along the borders o f lakes and rivers. Its food consists
o f small grass-seeds procured among the herbage on the ground. I t is not a m igratory species, and its place
of resort appears to be merely changed when, the supply of food being exhausted, it becomes necessary to
seek it elsewhere. Mr. Gilbert states th at “ it is a solitary species and is generally found in the most retired
spots in the thickets, where its mournful, slowly drawn-out note only serves to add to the loneliness o f the
place. Its powers o f flight, although sometimes rapid, would seem to he feeble, as they are merely employed
to remove it from tree to tree. The natives o f the mountain districts o f Western Australia have
a tradition that the first bird of this species speared a dog and drank its blood, and thus obtained its red
hilL”
The sexes are so mucli alike th at dissection is necessary to distinguish the male from the female. The
beautiful patch of scarlet feathers behind the eye, together with the rich colouring o f the bill, assists very
materially in relieving the more sombre but delicate markings of the remainder of the body.
Lores, line over the bill and a narrow circle surrounding the eye black ; behind the eye a small patch of
shining s c arlet; all the upper surface olive-brown, crossed by numerous fine irregular crescent-shaped bands
o f black, which are broadest and most conspicuous on the lower p a rt of the b a ck ; wings and tail similarly
marked, but with the black bands still broader and more d istin c t; rump and the margins o f the base
o f the central tail-feathers shining sc a rle t; throat and breast light brown, crossed by numerous crescentshaped
bands of black ; abdomen and under surface black, with a large spot o f white near the tip o f each
feather ; irides red ; bill bright vermilion, the base o f the upper mandible edged with pearl-grey; eyelash
• greenish blue ; legs yellowish grey.
The figures are of the natural size.