AMADINA RUFICAUDA, Gould.

Mas. Ama. fronte genisque coccineis, his albo striatis ; corpore superné olivaceo-fusco ; tectrictbus caude, caudaque fusco-
coccineis, illis guttis pallido-rubris ornatis ; guld corporeque inferné olwaceo-griseis, albo transversim notatis, abdo-
mine intermedio crissoque flavido-albis ; rostro coccineo ; pedibus pallidi-brunneis.

Fam. corpore toto cinereo-fusco, abdomine intermedio albo ; caudd rufescente-brunned.

Long. tot. 44 une.; ale, 24+; caude, 12; tarsi, }.

Mate. Face and cheeks scarlet, the latter covered with narrow feathers, which are finely spotted with white at
the tip ; upper surface and wings olive brown; upper tail-coverts and tail deep crimson brown, the former
having a large spot of pinkish white near the tip of each feather; throat, chest, and flanks delicate olive grey,
each feather having a large oval white spot transversely disposed near the tip; centre of the abdomen and
under tail-coverts dirty yellowish white; bill scarlet; legs fleshy brown.

Femare. All the upper surface, cheeks, chest, and flanks uniform greyish brown; centre of the abdomen white ;
tail-feathers dark brown, the shafts of the centre feathers strongly tinged with dark crimson brown ; bill and
legs brown.

Amadina ruficauda, Gould, in Proc. of Zool. Soc. Part IV. 1836, p. 106, and in Syn. of the Birds of Australia.

 

Srverax specimens of this elegant species of Amadina formed a part of a very fine collection of birds obtained
by Mr. C. Coxen during his last expedition into the interior of New South Wales.

I believe that this species inhabits the country north of Liverpool Plains; but as no account either of the
localities in which it was procured, or of its habits and manners have been transmitted to us, we are unable
to enter into any details on the subject.

In its general contour this species is particularly elegant, besides which, its markings are both chaste and
delicate, and it may be easily distinguished from most of its congeners by the rufous colouring of the tail; to

which our specific appellation refers.
Habitat, New Holland.

The Plate represents the male and female of the natural size.