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Tho Family is confined to the Old 

 World, where it is most abundant in 

 Africa. The branch of the Family 

 found in China is characterized by a 

 powerful swollen bill, a tail in which 

 the central feathers are more or less 

 pointed ; and there is no spring change 

 in the plumage. 



Only three species of this family are 

 met with in the Yangtse Valley. 



THE SHARP-TAILED MUNIA. 



UROLONCHA SQUAMICOLLIS, SHARPE. 

 [Munia acuticauda (Hodge.)] 



Description. — Length four and one 

 half inches. Bill dark plumbeous blue, 

 shading lighter at the base and at the 

 tip of the lower mandible. Tarsus 

 brownish black. 



Upper parts a nutmeg brown, 

 with a fine white shaft line to 

 each feather. Rump white mixed with 

 gray. Upper and under tail coverts 

 brownish. Throat black. Sides of the 

 neck and breast brownish white, each 

 feather with the white shaft line, and 

 all edged white. Abdomen grayish 

 white, marked with faint brown 

 streaks. The tail is black, and pointed. 

 The wings are brown. 



Distribution. — South and central 

 China, and southeastern Asia. Common 

 resident in the Yangtse Valley. 



Nest and Eggs. — The nest is a large 

 globular structure of grass and leaves, 

 mixed with paper, rags, or any con- 

 venient material. The entrance is at 

 one side. It is usually placed in a 

 shrub, or low tree, or vine. Sometimes 

 a number of birds will join in the 

 construction of a communal nest. The 

 eggs are light pink color. 



