Stat. v.c. houses 5
Crown, nape bluish-gray; behind eye, side neck broad chestnut band; upper brown; one white bar on wing; cheeks, throat black; under whitish; f., duller; darker below; no black throat. Seeds, insects. Chirps.
F. 151. Coerebidae, Honey-Creepers, 93 sp.—1(0)Nc., 93(92)Nl.
F. 152. Procniatidae, 1 sp. Nl.
F. 153. Tanagridae, Tanagers, 424 sp.—6(0)Nc., 424(418)Nl.
Order XXI. (continued)
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."