i 7 7 



THE AMADAVAT. 



" So will my readers at once recognise the bird of which I write when 

 "I inform them that the Aniadavat is the little red bird with white spots 

 " that occurs in every aviary in India. The bird is, indeed, not all red, but the 

 " bill is bright red and there are patches of this colour all over the plumage — 

 '• more in the cock than in the hen, and more in the former in the breeding 

 "season than at other times. Thus the general effect is that of a red bird, 

 " hence the native name of Lai munia, which, being interpreted, is the Red 

 " Muuia. This is the proper English name of the bird, although fanciers 

 " frequently call it the Red Waxbill. Men of science know it as Sporce- 

 " ginthus amandava. I may say here that the name Avadavat or Aniadavat 

 " is derived from Ahmedabad, whence great numbers used to be exported, 

 "for the bird is a great favourite in England. 



" It is the cage bird of India par excellance. Hundreds of thousands 

 '' of Amadavats must at this moment be living in captivity. The bird takes 

 "to captivity as a Scotsman to whisky. Within five minutes of capture the 

 "little creature is contentedly eating its seed and singing quite gaily. This 

 "is no exaggeration. I was recently out with a friend when we came upon 

 "a small boy catching Munias. We saw captured a fine cock which my 

 " friend purchased for two annas. Not happening to have a cage in his 

 " pocket, he put the tiny creature into a fold of his handkerchief and placed 

 "the remainder of the handkerchief in his pocket. While we were walking 

 " home our captive began twittering in answer to his companions who were 

 " still free. If this be not philosophical behaviour, I do not know what is. 



" Nothing is easier than to catch Munias. All that is required is 

 " the common pyramidal-shaped four-anna wicker cage in which birds are 

 " usually carried about in India. To the base of one of the walls of this a 

 "flap is attached by a hinge. The flap is the same size and shape as the 

 " walls of the cage, and composed of a frame over which a narrow meshed 

 "string net is stretched. A string is fastened to the apex of the flap. The 

 " cage with a captive bird inside, is placed in the open so that the flap rests on 

 " the ground. On this some groundsel is thrown. In a few minutes a passing 

 " Aniadavat is attracted by the song of the bird inside. The new-comer at 

 "once begins to feed on the groundsel. Then the bird-catcher, who is 

 "seated a few feet away, pulls the string sharply, so that the flap closes over 

 " the side of the cage and thus the bird is secured. It is then placed inside 

 " the cage and the flap again set. In this manner a dozen or more 



" Amadavats can be captured in an hour Although 



"Amadavats are widely distributed in India and fairly common in most 

 " parts of the country, they usually escape notice on account of their small 

 "size. When flying overhead they are probably mistaken for Sparrows. 

 " Moreover they do not often visit gardens ; they prefer open country. 



"Amadavats belong to the finch family, to the great tribe which 

 "includes the Sparrow, the Canary, and the Weaver-bird. Bv their coarse 



