32 



opening upwards transversely, and is composed of small roots and stalks 

 of various plants, principally of grasses, which materials are generally very 

 loosely woven on the outside of the nest, but which, on the contrary, on 

 the inner side, are more closely and carefully twisted together. The 

 number found in one nest of the shining white eggs, which are 14 to 15 

 millimetres in length, and whose greatest diameter measured obliquely is 10 

 to 11 millimetres, amounts usually to five, seven sometimes, and rarely only 

 to four." 



For the knowledge of the existence of this species as a permanent 

 resident in the Malayan Peninsula, we are indebted to Lieut. H. B. Kelham, 

 who gives a very complete contribution on ' Malayan Ornithology,' which 

 appeared in the 'Ibis' for 1881. He remarks that " J/»hm atricapiUa 

 ( Vieill.) is common, though not so much so as M. maja. Like that species, 

 it congregates in large flocks. My note book says : — 



" Saigong, Perak, 23rd May, 1877. To-day, on the low ground 

 bordering Saigong Jhell, I shot several Munias out of a large flock 

 which rose from the paddy. They are very like M. maja, except that they 

 have the head black mstead of white. 



" One of these, a male, is 4^^ inches in length, irides red-brown, beak 

 plumbeous, head, neck, and upper part of breast black, upper tail-coverts 

 o-olden-chestnut, rest of plumage chestnut, becoming dusky on the tail ; its 

 stomach contained a great many minute particles of quartz. 



" At first 1 thought this bird was Munia ruhronigra (Hodgs.), which it 

 much resembles ; but that species has the middle of the belly, the vent, and 

 the under tail-coverts black mstead of chestnut." 



Mr. H. 0. Forbes also procured this bird in Sumatra. 



Specimens examined. 



No. Sex. Mus. Locality. Length.Wing. Tail. Tars. Culm. 



a. <? E. B. Java. 3-65 1-9.5 l-i5 06 04 



h. ? E. B. Java. 37 20 145 0.6 045 



c. 3 E. B. Sumatra (H. 0. Forbes). 3-7 2-0 14 06 045 



d. juv. E. B. ?. 3-95 2-2 13 06 04 



e. $ A. Boucard. CochincliLaa, Introduced. 44 2-0 1.3 06 04 



The figure (Plate V. fig. 3) is taken from the male a in my own 

 collection. 



