246 



anna piece from off the forehead of its master whenever called 

 upon to do so. 



Many species of Mnnia are found in India. The Indian' 

 forms most commonly seen in aviaries are: 



(1) The Nutmeg Bird, or Spice Bird, or Spotted Munia 



(Uroloncha punctulata). 



(2) The Sharp-tailed Munia (£/. acuticaudata). This species 



is not found in the plains. 



(3) The White-throated Munia (U. malabarica). 



(4) The A?nadavat, or Red Munia, or Red Waxbill {Sporcs- 

 ginthus amandava). 



(5) The Green Amadavat (Sliciospiza formosa). 



As every bird-fancier is aware, these are all birds of di- 

 minutive stature, the smaller ones being only half the size of the 

 Sparrow. This, together with the feebleness of their notes, pro- 

 bably accounts for the fact that many Anglo-Indians spend half 

 a lifetime in the gorgeous East without ever observing a Munia 

 in the wild state. Except at the breeding season, they go about 

 in considerable flocks. These companies appear to wander about 

 from one district to another. Notwithstanding the fact that I 

 habitually go out walking with field glasses I only once, during 

 the two years I spent at Lahore, saw any Spotted Munias, and on 

 that occasion I came across quite a large flock of them. They 

 feed largely on the ground, but may also be seen clinging to the 

 heads of grasses when in flower. Oates states that they consume 

 large quantities of grain crops. This I am inclined to doubt. 

 The}'' build globular nests nearly as large as a football. In some 



species, at any rate, several hens use the nest simultaneously. 



* # * 



Bibliography. 



Cunningham. Some Indian Friends and Acquaintances, 



pp. 179, 1S0, 191, 195, 257, 259.. 

 Dewar. Birds of the Plains, pp. 16, 22, 46, 55, 183, 189, 



DEWAR. Bombay Ducks, pp. 71, 79. [ J 97> 2 ° r - 



Eha. The Common Birds of Bombay, pp. 131, 145. 



Finn. The Birds of Calcutta, (2nd Edit.) pp. 114, 176. 



Finn. Garden and Aviary Birds of India, pp. 86, 92. 



Hume. Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds, (2nd Edit.) 



Jerdon. The Birds of India, Vol. II., pp. 341, 414. 



Oates. Faiaia of Btitish India. Birds. 



Vol. II., pp. 173, 266.. 



