Part 40

The figures represent a male in two positions of the natural size.

POËPHILA ACUTICAUDA: Gould.

J. Gould and H. C. Richter del^t. C. Hullmandel Imp. ]

POËPHILA ACUTICAUDA, Gould. Long-tailed Grass Finch.

Amadina acuticauda, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VII. p. 143.

It is no less interesting to trace the analogies of species inhabiting the opposite portions of a large continent like that of Australia, than to observe how beautifully any peculiar character is preserved in the species of every natural group. The three new species of the present genus afford a very striking example of this, where not only a similarity of colouring exists in the deep fawn or cinnamon hue of the plumage, but in the conspicuous band of black which surrounds the lower part of the body; nor is the graduated character of the tail-feathers less striking in these three species, the first trace of it being observable in Poëphila cincta, which would appear to be carried to the maximum in the present species, which, so far as is known, is confined to the north-west coast. The specimens from which my figures of this bird were taken are from the interesting collection placed in my hands by Mr. Bynoe of the Beagle, whose great perseverance and assiduity have enabled me to add many species to the fauna of Australia. Indeed many of the officers of that vessel will have their names handed down to posterity in consequence of the attention they have paid to this branch of science, independently of the legitimate objects of their various expeditions; among others I may particularly allude to my much-esteemed friend Mr. Darwin, Captain Wickham, Captain Stokes, Mr. Dring, &c. Since the arrival of Mr. Bynoe’s birds I have also received specimens from Port Essington, which, like their analogue the Poëphila cincta of the eastern coast, inhabit the open plains bordering streams, and feed on the seeds of various grasses and other plants.

I regret that so little information has been transmitted to me respecting the habits and economy of this beautiful species.

The sexes differ but little in outward appearance; the female is, however, rather less in size, is less strikingly marked, and has the two middle tail-feathers shorter than her mate.

Crown of the head and cheeks grey; upper and under surface of the body fawn-colour, becoming more delicate, and assuming a pinky hue on the abdomen; lores, throat, hand across the rump and tail jet-black; upper and under tail-coverts and thighs white; wings fawn-grey; bill and feet yellow.

The figures are those of a male and a female of the natural size.

POËPHILA PERSONATA: Gould.

J. Gould and H. C. Richter del^t. C. Hullmandel Imp. ]

POËPHILA PERSONATA, Gould. Masked Grass Finch.

Poëphila personata, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., February 8, 1842.

This beautiful and well-marked species of Grass Finch is also a native of the north-west coast of Australia, where several specimens were shot by Mr. Gilbert during an excursion from Port Essington towards the interior of the country, who states that it inhabits grassy meadows near streams, feeding on grass-seeds, &c. It was tolerably abundant, being congregated in flocks of from twenty to forty. When on the wing it utters a very feeble cry of twit, twit, twit, but at other times pours forth a drawn-out mournful note, like that of the Estreldas.

The sexes are scarcely to be distinguished by their outward appearance, both possessing the masked face; the female is, however, rather less in size, and her markings are not quite so brilliant or decided as those of the male.

Base of the bill surrounded by an irregular ring of deep velvety black; crown of the head, upper surface and wings light cinnamon-brown; lower part of the abdomen banded with deep velvety black; lower part of the rump and under tail-coverts white; upper tail-coverts white, striped longitudinally with black on the outer side; tail deep blackish brown; irides of the old birds red, of the young birds dark brown; bill bright orange; legs and feet fleshy red.

In some specimens the upper and lower ridges of the bill are black, while in others the basal half only is orange, the remaining portion being brown.

The figures are those of a male and a female of the natural size.

POËPHILA LEUCOTIS: Gould.

J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith. Hullmandel & Walton Imp. ]

POËPHILA LEUCOTIS, Gould. White-eared Grass Finch.

Poëphila leucotis, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part XIV. p. 106.

The present beautiful species of Poëphila is one of the novelties discovered during Dr. Leichardt’s expedition from Moreton Bay to Port Essington; it was killed in the neighbourhood of the river Lynd by Mr. Gilbert, in whose Journal, under the date of June 3, 1845, I find the following remark:—“The most interesting circumstance that occurred to me to-day was the discovery of a new species of Poëphila, which is very nearly allied to the one from Port Essington (P. personata, Gould), but which differs from that bird in having the bill light yellowish horn-colour instead of orange, the irides dark brown and the legs red; it is in every respect a true Poëphila, having the black face and throat, the black marks on the flanks, the lengthened tail-feathers and the general plumage of a light brown; like the other members of the genus too, it inhabits the open spots of country, and feeds on grass seeds.”

This I regret to say is all that is known respecting it. In addition to the differences pointed out by Mr. Gilbert, I may mention that it may also be distinguished from the P. personata by its white ear-coverts and by the black of the throat being bounded below and the black marks on the flanks anteriorly with white; the colouring of the upper surface is also a somewhat richer brown.

I possess both sexes of this species, and, as is the case with the other members of the genus, they differ but little from each other.

Band crossing the forehead, lores, throat, and a large patch on each flank deep velvety black; ear-coverts, a narrow line beneath the black of the throat, and a space surrounding the black patch on the flanks white; crown of the head deep reddish chestnut; all the upper surface and wings dark cinnamon-brown; chest and abdomen pale vinous brown; upper and under tail-coverts white, the former margined externally with deep black; tail black; irides dark brown; feet red; bill yellowish horn-colour.

The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size.