202 BIRDS FROM FLÜRES , SUMBA AND ROTTI. 



27. 3^unia nisoria (Temm.). 



Three adult birds and five young specimens, some of 

 the latter in more or less advanced transitional stage of 

 plumage. All these specimens differ somewhat from the 

 true M. nisoria from Java , being sensibly smaller than 

 the average size of the latter, and having the bill also 

 smaller. In the coloration they approach very much the 

 species M. topela in being less dark brown above than 

 the Javanese birds, in having the upper tail-coverts and 

 the middle tail-feathers tinged with green , and the feathers 

 on the chest more minutely barred than M. nisoria. 



Wing 4,8 cm., tail 3,2, tarsus 1,3. 



The Munia-group which is characterized by a brown 

 throat and dark brown-and-white ocellations on breast 

 and flanks, consists of a few very closely allied species, 

 the young specimens of which do not differ from each 

 other at all. In his Catalogue of the British Museum, Vol. 

 XIII, Dr. Sharpe recognizes only one species of this group: 

 Munia punctulata from British India , including Ceylon , 

 and extending eastward to Assam and Cachar, and the 

 subspecies M. suhundulata from the above mentioned region 

 eastward to Cochin China, M. topela from Southern China, 

 Formosa and Hainan , M. nisoria from the Malayan Pen- 

 insula and Java , and M. cabanisi from the island of Luzon. 



Of these forms M. suhundulata is hardly worth recog- 

 nizing and might be united with M. topela. 



Munia punctulata (L.), of which our collection contains 

 five specimens, may easily be distinguished from all the 

 allied forms by the fulvous tinge of the upper tail-coverts 

 and central tail-feathers, which color is strongly yielding 

 to golden yellow. The general color on the upper surface 

 is brown, with a rufous tinge, the latter color prevailing 

 on the front. Sides of face deep chestnut brown, getting 

 paler towards the sides of neck and very sharply defined 

 towards the chest. The rump is strongly barred with dark 

 olive-brown, and the lower surface, with the exception 



Notes from the Leyden Museum, Vol. XIV. 



