DOIiACICOJLA HTOHSIMM,«™*.
DONACICOLA HUNSTEINI , Finsch.
Hunstein’s Weaver-Finch.
Donacicola kunsteini, Finsch, Ibis, 1886, p. 1, pi. 1.
T his very distinct species of Weaver-Finch is one o f the most interesting discoveries made by the well-known
traveller Dr. Otto Finsch, during his expeditions to New Guinea and the islands o f the South Seas. He
met with the present bird in New Ireland, where, he says, “ it was discovered a t the extreme north corner
o f the island. It lives in the high jungle-grass and is difficult to obtain.”
The following is a description o f the typical specimens, which are now in the British Museum
Adult male. General colour above black, the rump and upper tail-coverts chestnut with a wash o f golden
yellow; wing-coverts black like the b a c k ; bastard-wing, primary-coverts, and quills rather paler blackish
brown edged with golden ; tail-feathers blackish brown, the centre ones golden towards the ends, like the upper
tail-coverts ; crown o f head, nape, and hind neck hoary grey, mottled with blackish bases to the feathers ;
lores and feathers below the eye, eyelid, and fore part of cheeks black; ear-coverts hoary grey like the head,
a shade o f the same colour overspreading the hinder cheeks ; throat and entire under surface o f body velvety
b lack; under wing-coverts pale tawny buff, the edge o f the wing b lack ; quills below blackish, pale tawny
buff along the inner edge : “ bill and feet black ; iris dark ” ( 0 . Finscfi). Total length 3*5 inches, culmen
0 -4, wing 2 '0 , tail l -15, tarsus 0*6.
Adult female. Similar to the male in colour. Total length 3*5 inches, culmen 0 ’4, wing 1 9 , tail 1‘2,
tarsus 0 55.
Young. Brown, without any o f the chestnut on the rump and tail, and only a slight indication o f grey here
and there on the h e ad ; side o f face, cheeks, throat, aud chest dark chocolate-brown, the breast and abdomen
isabelline buff.
T h e figures in the Plate represent an adult male and female, as well as a young bird. They are drawn
from the typical examples described above.
[R. B. S .J