Birds of the Indian Hills 



Coonoor and Ootacamund. They occur in 

 flocks on closely-cropped grassland. They 

 feed on the ground. They are tiny birds, not 

 much larger than white-eyes. The upper- 

 plumage is chocolate brown, becoming a rich 

 chestnut about the head and neck, while the 

 breast and abdomen are mottled black and 

 white, hence the popular name. The black 

 spots on the breast and abdomen cause these to 

 look like the surface of a nutmeg grater ; for 

 that reason this munia is sometimes spoken of 

 as the nutmeg-bird. The rufous-bellied munia 

 (Uroloncha pectoralis) occurs abundantly a little 

 below Coonoor, but does not appear to ascend 

 so high as Ootacamund. Its upper parts are 

 chocolate brown, save the feathers above the tail, 

 which Oates describes as "glistening fulvous." 

 The wings and tail are black, as are the cheeks, 

 chin, and throat. The lower parts are pinkish 

 brown. The stout bill is slaty blue. Like the 

 spotted munia, this species is considerably smaller 

 than a sparrow. 



The Indian red-munia or red waxbill or lal 

 (Sporteginthus amandava) is another very small 

 bird. Its bill and eyes are bright red. Over 

 its brown plumage are dotted many tiny white 



spots. There are also some large patches of 

 206 



