29 



notes on the MiI^ Xifc of the 

 mbabitants of our Hviaries. 



I must say at the beginning that these notes will 

 only be possible by a constant reference to the pages 

 of the "Journal of the Bombay Natural History 

 Society," " Bird Lore," etc., and are compiled from 

 actual field notes. — Ed. 



Avadavat, SpoicBoi7ithiis amandava. This, known 

 on the spot as the Indian Red Munia, is an inhabitant 

 of almost all our aviaries. By their vivacity, cheerful 

 little song, which is almost continuously uttered, their 

 general hardiness, and almost always changing and 

 brilliant plumage, they have made themselves universal 

 favourites. 



Captain Betham found them in tlie Deklian, quite 

 a colony of them along the banks of the river, among 

 the coarse rank grass, growing in thick tussocks from 

 3ft. to 4ft. high ; this was early September and the 

 males were in full bridal costume. Two unfinished 

 nests were found of the usual type, carefully built 

 domed structures, with a small entrance hole on one 

 side ; constructed of coarse grass lined with finer, 

 feathers and flowering grasses ; and from 2ft. to 3ft. 

 from the ground in the aforementioned grass tussocks. 

 There were some twenty pairs in this colony, onl}' two 

 nests were found, which the females alone were seen 

 to build. The definite number of eggs in clutch is not 

 stated, but when one of the aforementioned unfinished 

 nest were visited after a week's interval, three eggs were 

 found in one (two were taken) of the usual white 

 colour about -52 x •42. The males kept up a continual 

 low song very pleasing to the ear. Jotinial of the 

 Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 



