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The Birds of Australia, Vol. 3 of 7 cover

The Birds of Australia, Vol. 3 of 7

Chapter 97: TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
By John Gould
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About This Book

A richly illustrated, taxonomic natural history volume cataloging numerous Australian bird species through detailed descriptions and plates. It combines morphological notes on plumage and variation with field observations of behavior, vocalizations, diet, nesting, eggs, and habitat preferences, and records geographic distribution across mainland regions, islands, and Tasmania. The author synthesizes specimen-based taxonomy with reports from collectors, distinguishes closely related forms, and documents occurrence and abundance, providing practical information on localities and natural history useful to both scientific readers and informed amateurs.

EMBLEMA PICTA, Gould.
Painted Finch.

Emblema picta, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., 1842.

This beautiful Finch is a native of the north-west coast of Australia, where it was procured by B. Bynoe, Esq. The single individual sent me by that gentleman, and which I have drawn in two different positions, was unaccompanied by any account whatever of its habits and economy; but we may reasonably infer from the lengthened and pointed form of its bill, that the kind of food upon which it subsists will be somewhat different from that of the other Australian Finches. My readers will not fail to observe how singular is the disposition of the colouring in the present bird, the under parts being extremely beautiful, while on the upper, which is generally the most highly ornamented, a more than ordinary degree of plainness prevails.

Face and throat deep vermilion red; the base of all the feathers of the throat black, giving that part a mingled appearance of black and red; crown of the head, all the upper surface and wings brown; rump deep vermilion red; tail dark brown; chest and all the under surface jet-black, the flanks numerously spotted with white, and the centre of the abdomen dashed with deep vermilion red; feet light red; upper mandible black, under mandible scarlet, with a triangular patch of black at the base.

The figures are of the natural size.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

  1. Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling.
  2. Anachronistic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings retained as printed.