156 SPOLIA ZEYLANIOA. 



Uroloncha PUNCTULATA. 



The Spotted Munia. 



Uroloncha punctulata (Gates, Vol. II., p. 189); Munia punctulata 

 (Legge, p. 656). 



Description. — Upper plumage dull chocolate -brown with 

 paler shafts ; rump darker with yellowish bars and white 

 streaks ; upper tail coverts glistening yellowish-brown ; tail 

 feathers brown edged with the hue of the tail coverts ; wing 

 quills chocolate-brown with chestnut edges ; sides of head, 

 chin, and throat rich chestnut ; lower parts white, all the 

 feathers, except on the centre of the abdomen, with conspi- 

 cuous wavy edges and cross-bars of blackish-brown ; lower 

 tail coverts tawny with, at times, some black marks. 



Young birds are uniform rufous-brown above and pale buff 

 below. 



Bill bluish -black ; iris lightish -red ; legs and feet black or 

 lead -colour. 



Length 5 ; wing 2*2 ; tail 1-75 ; tarsus -6 ; bill from gape 

 •45. 



Distribution. — Our commonest species : abundant all over 

 the low-country and in the hills to about 2,500 feet, or in 

 patana districts to about 4,000 feet. It occurs throughout 

 India, except in the north-west ; also in Assam and parts of 

 Burma. 



Habits. — A gregarious species occurring in large flocks in 

 paddy j&elds, grass lands, village gardens, and compounds. 

 It is seldom found far from cultivation, except in patana 

 country. It commits considerable dej^redations on paddy 

 crops. The birds roost in colonies in low trees and bushes. 

 Breeding appears to be carried on almost throughout the year. 

 The nest is of the usual type and is placed in a low tree, 

 generally a lime or orange tree, or some other thorny species, 

 in an untidy native garden. There are often several nests 

 in the same tree. There are usually four to six white eggs, 

 oval in shape. Average size "66 by •45. 



