l84 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



is its habit of singing in dumb show, that is, for many human 

 ears, for to judge by the attention paid to the performer by 

 his companions the harmony must be audible to them. 



Malacca Finch. — The head and neck are silvery grey ; 

 the under tail coverts are black ; and all the rest of the 

 plumage is rich cinnamon brown, brightest on the upper 

 tail coverts. Length, 4i inches; tail, li. 



The nest is placed among reeds, is of large size, covered, 

 and contains four or five white eggs. 



Chestnut-Bellied Finch. — This bird has the head, 

 neck, and upper part of the breast deep velvety black; and 

 all the rest of the plumage bright cinnamon brown, passing 

 to maroon on the upper tail coverts. In size, habits, and 

 nidification, it is like the last. 



Striated Finch. — The general colour of this little bird 

 is brownish black, the quills of each feather forming a line 

 of a liofhter shade of the same colour, an arranofement that 

 gives the bird the striated appearance from which its name 

 is derived. Its white, fawn, and parti-coloured cage-bred 

 descendants are known by the name of Bengalee, and are 

 very generally bred in aviaries, where they nest as freely as 

 canaries, and, like the latter, arc at times but indifferent 

 feeders ; however, a good pair once secured, thc}^ will go on 

 rearing brood after brood for j-ears at all seasons. The 

 statement made by a recent writer that only one, or, at the 

 raost, two young are hatched at a time is merely the result 

 of inexperience, for they are ver}^ prolific when rationally 

 treated ; but all that person's statements must be taken 

 cum grano, and a very big grain, too, for he has a charac- 

 teristic habit of jumping to conclusions from insufficient 

 data, and the worst of it is that he sticks to fii-st impres- 

 sions, even when disproved b}'' subsequent ascertained facts, 

 which is decidedly unwise. 



Manyar Weaver Bird. — The headquarters of these 



