524 Lieut. H. R. Kelham on 



The other three were similar to the above, but not so 

 distinctly marked; two of them were almost without the 

 crescentic markings on the breast and upper tail-coverts. 



All four were slightly under 4^ inches in length, and had 

 the legs plumbeous. 



In April 1877, I shot an adult male out of a party of eight 

 which were flitting about some bushes on the banks of the 

 Perak river. 



Breast clove-brown, the feathers edged and shafted with 

 dusky white, abdomen dirty white, marked with dull brown, 

 under tail-coverts brown. 



•While flying, the bird's white rump and pointed tail were 

 very noticeable. 



This species extends eastward to China. While I was 

 stationed at Hong Kong, in May 1878, a pair of these Munias 

 built among the top branches of a bamboo-clump, over 20 feet 

 from the ground, but within two yards of my veranda ; the 

 nest was a large domed mass of dry grass and reeds, and 

 without any soft lining. 



Though apparently loosely put together, the nest and its 

 contents were quite unharmed by a gale which bent the 

 bamboo almost to the ground ; on 3rd June there were four 

 eggs, pure white in colour, as are those of all the Munias. 



Amadina okyzivora (Linn.) . The Java Sparrow. 



Found only in Singapore, where it is common, particularly 

 in the neighbourhood of the Botanical Gardens at Tangliu. 



Not being met with on the mainland, I think there can be 

 little doubt that it has been introduced into Singapore. Pro- 

 bably in the first instance it was confined in some of the 

 aviaries in the Gardens, whence individuals having escaped 

 have bred and firmly established their species on the island. 



They are very tame, frequenting the roads and feeding in 

 company with the common Sparrows [Passer montanus). 

 During July 1879 two pairs had their nests under the eaves 

 of our mess at Tangliu, and continually flew to and fro within 

 a few feet of passers by. 



Passer montanus (Linn.). 



The common and only Sparrow of the Straits and Malay 



