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Australian Fiix-iailcd J^^iiic/i. i 6 i
some kind of seed or food which M-e have 3.-et to discover, and without whicli he
does not thrive in Europe as a cage-bird. I have heard that the Fire-tailed Finch
is very sli}' when newly caught, and for this reason is often brought o^-er in dark
cages. If this be true it nia\' well be that the birds which died .so uuacconntabh'
may have perished through sheer fright, in consecpienee of the admiration of their
purchasers. Oue of the most intelligent London dealers, who frequently imported
the Fire-tailed Finches, alwa3-s placed them on the top shelves of his shop, out
of reach of observation, and seemed to loose comparatively few. The first specimen
Dr. Russ had in his aviarj' was so nervous that whenever he entered his Birdroom
the poor little bird flew on to his hand, and ti'ied to hide in his coat slee\-e,
evidently seeking for a dark shelter. It is needless to saj- that the bird has ne\-er
been bred in captivit)'."
i\-Ir. Gould gives the following account of the species :—
"Tasmania ma}- be considered the principal habitat of the species, for it is
uni\'ersall)- and numerousl)- dispersed over all parts of that island suited to its
habits and econonn*. It also inhabits New South Wales, but is there far less
abundant. I geuerall}- obser\'ed it in small communities varying from six to a
dozen in number, searching on the ground for seeds of grasses and other small
plants which grow on the plains and open parts of the forest. It also frequents
the gardens and pleasure-grounds of the settlers, with whon) it is a favourite, few
birds being more tame or more beautifulh' coloured thau this little Finch; the
brilliant scarlet of the rump and base of the tail-feathers strongl)' contrasting \\'ith
the. more sombre hue of the bod}-. Its flight is extreme!)' rapid and arrow-like,
particular!}- when crossing a plain or passing do%\-n a gull}'. It is a stationary
species in Tasmania and probabl}' also in New South Wales. In the former
countr}' I constautl}- found it breeding in communities, my attention being usuallv
attracted by the enormous nests which the}- built among the branches of shrubb}-
trees, without the slightest attempt at concealment. They are constructed entirely
of grasses and stalks of grass, dome-shaped in form, Avith a hole near the top for
the ingress and egress of the bird. The eggs are five or six in niunber, rather
lengthened in form and of a beautiful flesh-white, eight and a half lines long and
six and a half lines broad. It breeds from September to January, during which
period two or three broods are reared. Its note is a single mournful sound,
emitted while perched on the lev- branches of the trees in the neighbourhood of
its feeding places."
Mr. North writes:—" Tasmania is the stronghold of this species, but it is
also found on the Australian Continent. A nest of this species wa.s taken at
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