Gould placed the Australian Finches in the same family as the Sparrow--the _Fringillidae_--which includes also the Linnet and the cage Canary. Most writers now put them in with the Weaver-Birds or Weaver Finches (family _Ploceidae_). Twenty-three Finches have been recorded from Australia. All have the well-known Finch bill, adapted for shelling seeds, and all are seed-eaters, though some occasionally take insects in addition.
The Spotted-sided Finch is true to name, as a glance at the illustration shows. The rare Fire-tail is beautifully and closely banded below, while the Chestnut-eared Finch is banded on the throat and chest. The Plum-headed Finch has a deep crimson forehead, and is banded below.
The Red-browed Finch is often called the "Firetail," for it has the red rump as well as the red brow and bill, but the under surface is not banded. These birds usually build a very large nest, which has been compared to a "stocking hung by the toe, while the eggs are laid in the heel, and entrance is gained through the leg."
The introduced Starling has firmly established itself, and is extending its range rapidly. Incredible numbers gather at lagoon-sides to roost in the reed-beds.
This bird is a favorite with farmers and graziers, but orchardists view its rapid increase with alarm. It is possible, as Mr. C. French, Government Entomologist, has pointed out, that the Starling will yet prove a more expensive pest than the Rabbit.
Starlings, at least, upset the balance of nature, for, by occupying all available nesting sites, early and late, they displace the native birds. Kingfishers, Parrots, and other birds that nest in hollows are thus being driven away from their old haunts.
The Australian Oriole is a member of the family of true Orioles. The Fig-Birds of Queensland towns are closely related. The members of this family are restricted to the Eastern Hemisphere. Our Oriole is an interesting migrant which visits even cities. Its beautiful hanging, cup-shaped nest woven amongst the twigs at the end of a leafy bough is a clever piece of work. Its note is melodious and varied. It often calls "o-ree-ee-o-ole." It is also fond of mimicking other birds.
The Baltimore Oriole, or Golden Robin, is properly not an Oriole, but comes in a related family--the _Icteridae_--which contains American birds somewhat similar to Orioles. The Australian bird, as shown by the colored illustration, has not the conspicuous golden and black plumage of the European bird.
The Spangled Drongo is the Australian representative of a family of birds spread from Africa, Madagascar, and India up to Japan, and through the islands to Australia. They are a characteristic feature of Indian ornithology, for they are found everywhere in that country.
The one Australian bird is a migrant, and seldom reaches Southern Australia. Like other Drongos, it is a glossy black, has a long, forked tail, is a good mimic of other birds' calls, and is also a vicious fighter. It is exceedingly active, and has a disagreeably harsh, cackling, and creaking whistle. It will drive away even hawks and crows.
After the Shining Starlings of Queensland, come the marvellously-beautiful Birds of Paradise--"God's Birds."
These unique birds are found only in New Guinea, Papuan Islands, Molucca Islands, and the rich, tropical coast scrubs of Eastern Australia. One, the Riflebird, is found even down to North-Eastern New South Wales.
The Federal and State Governments are doing excellent work in protecting our beautiful birds, and are giving what seems to be a really efficient protection, so that some of our birds which possess the fatal gift of beauty in an extreme degree will probably survive for some time yet. Collectors as well as plume-hunters should be compelled to keep hands off our exquisite birds.
(continued below)
F. 154. PLOCEIDAE (23), WEAVER-FINCHES, 487 sp.--59(56)A., 41(37)O., 1(0)P., 391(391)E.
[Page 179]
1 1
=378* Spotted-sided Finch=, Diamond-Sparrow (e), Java-Sparrow (e), _Stagonopleura guttata_, S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A.
Stat. c. _grass_ 4.6
"Showy, attractive;" crown gray; back, wings brown; rump, bill, eye red; sides, chest-band, tail black; sides spotted white; throat, centre abdomen white; f., sim. Grass-seeds.
2 2
=379* Firetailed Finch=, Firetail, _Zonaeginthus bellus_, S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A., T.
Stat. r. _grass_ 4.6
Upper olive-brown, finely-barred black; under gray, finely-barred black; rump, bill scarlet; about eye black; f., sim. Seeds.
1 2
=380* Chestnut-eared Finch= (Zebra), _Taeniopygia castanotis_, A. (interior).
Nom. small flocks, v.r. _plains_ 4.2
Upper brown; rump white; upper base tail black, with three white spots; cheeks chestnut; throat, chest gray, barred black; black band on chest; abdomen white; flanks chestnut, spotted white; feet, bill orange; f., throat, chest gray, fringed brown; abdomen yellowish-brown. Grass-seeds.
1 4
=381* Plum-headed Finch= (Diadem, Plain-colored), _Aidemosyne modesta_, S.Q., N.S.W., V., S.A.
Stat. small flocks, r. _grass_ 4.6
Crown deep purple; bill, between eye and bill, spot on chin black; upper brown; wings spotted white; side-tail tipped white; under white barred brown; f., no black on chin. Seeds.
2 2
=382* Red-browed Finch= (Temporal), Redhead, Redbill (e), Sydney Waxbill, _aegintha temporalis_, E.A., S.A.
Stat. small flocks, r. _grass_ 4.5
Bill, patch over eye, rump crimson; crown gray; upper olive-brown; under lighter; f., sim. Seeds.
F. 155. _Icteridae_, Bobolink, Cowbird, Blackbirds (Am.), Oriole (Am.), Redwing (Am.), 185 sp.--35(15)Nc., 170(150) Nl.
F. 156. _Sturnidae_, Starlings, Grackles, 60 sp.--2(1)A., 42(28)O., 29(14)P., 2(1)E.
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[Illustration: [375] [376] [377] [378] [379] [380] [381] [382] [383]]
=375= Yellow-throated Friar-Bird =376= Australian Pipit =377= Bush-Lark =378= Spotted-Sided Finch =379= Firetailed Finch =380= Chestnut-eared Finch =381= Plum-headed Finch =382= Red-browed Finch =383= Olive-backed Oriole
[Page 183]
[Illustration: [384] [385] [385^A] [386] [390] [391] [392] [394]]
=384= Spangled Drongo =385= Satin Bower-Bird =385^A= Satin Bower-Bird (Female) =386= Spotted Bower-Bird =390= Apostle-Bird =391= White-winged Chough =392= Pied Bell-Magpie =394= Gray Bell-Magpie
[Page 186]
[Illustration: [382^A] [382^B] [383] [384] [385] [385^A]]
1 23
=382^A Starling=, _Sturnus vulgaris_, Eur., N. Afr., Asia, A. (introduced).
Nom. v.c. _open_ 8.5
Glossy-black, with metallic reflections; upper feathers tipped buff, under tipped white; light tips lost in summer; bill lemon-yellow summer, blackish winter; f., sim. Insects, caterpillars, fruit. Wheezing, whining notes. Mimic.