NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 115 



701— THE WHITE-BACKED MUNIA. 



Amadina striata, Lin. 



The White -backed Munia is not uncommon at Khandalla. I found 

 three nests not quite finished in a thick foliaged tree, in a garden 

 close to the railway station. Mr. Davidson found this to be the 

 Common Munia in Kanara, both above and below the ghats, apparently 

 building every month in the year, making a small round nest, of 

 the type of malabavica, composed of grass, lined with materials of 

 various kinds. The eggs are narrow ovals, and are generally four in 

 number, occasionally five. The nests are generally placed in thorny 

 bushes, three to ten feet from the ground. A very favourite place is 

 also among the thorns, tied six or seven feet from the ground, round 

 cocoanut trees, to prevent people climbing them. 



703— THE PLAIN BROWN MUNIA. 

 Amadina malabavica, Lin. 



The Plain Brown Munia is very common throughout Western 

 India, with the exception perhaps of Kanara. It is a permanent 

 resident, and seems to breed the whole year through. The nest is a 

 rather large loosely constructed sphere, made of fine grass, lined 

 with still finer grass The eggs, from four to ten in number, are 

 rather broad ovals in shape, but are subject to much variation ; they 

 are of the usual dead, glossless white colour. 



They measure 0'6 inches in length by about - 47 in breadth. 



I have often found nests built in the foundation of other large 

 nests, such as that of the Tawny Eagle and Common Kite. 



704.— THE RED WAXBILL. 



Estrelda amandeva, Lin. 

 The Red Waxbill occurs more or less commonly, in suitable places, 

 throughout the Presidency. It is common in some parts of Sind 

 and in Gujerat, but it is more rare in the Deccan. They are per- 

 manent residents, breeding I think twice in the year, once in Feb- 

 ruary and March, and again in October and November, making a 

 rather large globular nest of grass, which however is very difficult 

 to find, as the following note kindly furnished by Mr. Davidson will 

 show : — 



