THE FINCHES. 89 
inhabiting the lower ranges of the Himalayas, and 
extending east to Tenasserim, South China, and Sumatra ; 
but it is not common in India. 
The other Munias are far less interesting than these 
domestic ones, and, as I said above, are hardly worth 
keeping as pets. Besides the Spotted and the Black-head- 
ed species mentioned, the Silver-bill (Uroloncha malaba- 
rica)* is very common; it is a little drab bird, creamy- 
white below, with a blue bill and a long sharp black tail. 
There are several less common species which need not be 
mentioned ; they are all easy to keep, like those I have 
dealt with. Except the domestic species, however, Munias 
do not breed at all freely in captivity; in this they 
differ much from a near relative of theirs, which is often 
imported, and deserves special notice. 
Tue ZEBRA Fincu (Lwniopygia castanotis),* sometimes 
called the Rockhampton Finch, is a native of Australia, 
and has become very popular with bird-keepers. It is a 
very tiny creature, only about four inches long, with a 
stout bill like the Munias, but smaller feet. The plumage 
is grey above and white below, and the tail is black, with 
some large spots of white at the root above. There are 
two vertical black stripes on the face, and the bill is 
sealing-wax red, the feet being of a duller red. 
The cock can easily be distinguished from the hen; he 
has an orange patch on each cheek, his breast is crossed 
by fine black lines, and along his flanks runs a chestnut 
band with white dots; altogether he is a very fine 
little fellow. The young are at first like the hen, but 
with black instead of red bills. 
