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Long-tailed Finch
The long-tailed finch (''Poephila acuticauda'') is a common species of estrildid finch found in northern Australia, from the Kimberley (Western Australia), Kimberley region to the Gulf of Carpentaria. It is a predominantly fawn-coloured bird with a pale grey head and prominent black bib and eyes. It inhabits dry savannah habitats in Australia and adapts readily to aviculture. Taxonomy The species ''Poephila acuticauda'' was first described by ornithologist John Gould in 1840, placing the new taxon as ''Amadina acuticauda''. The specimen was collected by Benjamin Bynoe, the surgeon aboard HMS Beagle, HMS ''Beagle'', at Derby, Western Australia, Derby on the north-west coast of Australia. It is one of three species in the genus ''Poephila''. It is placed in the Australo-papuan finch family Estrildidae, although this family itself was previously placed in the sparrow family Old World sparrow, Passeridae. A variety of subspecific arrangements had been regarded as colour variation a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Gould
John Gould (; 14 September 1804 – 3 February 1881) was an English ornithologist who published monographs on birds, illustrated by plates produced by his wife, Elizabeth Gould (illustrator), Elizabeth Gould, and several other artists, including Edward Lear, Henry Constantine Richter, Joseph Wolf and William Matthew Hart. Because of his 1840s seven-volume series ''The Birds of Australia (Gould), The Birds of Australia'' and its updates he has been considered the father of bird study in Australia, and the Gould League in Australia is named after him. His identification of the birds now nicknamed "Darwin's finches" played a role in the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. Gould's work is referenced in Charles Darwin's book, ''On the Origin of Species''. Early life John Gould was born in Lyme Regis, the first son of a gardener. Both father and son probably had little education. After working on Dowager Lady Poulett's glass house, his father obtained ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
