Finches. 193 



well as canary, millet, and a little hemp-seed, and they 

 are fond of green food and carrots, and would of course 

 delight in rice, especially if it could be procured for 

 them in the husk. They are especially fond of bathing, 

 and must be well supplied with water. 



The SPICE BIRD (Munia or Spermestes punctu- 

 laria). This is also known as the " Nutmeg " and 

 " Cinnamon Bird," and is described by Bechstein under 

 the name of the " Gowry or Cowry Grosbeak." It is 

 about the size of a Linnet : the beak' is black, the legs 

 and feet are lead-coloured ; the head, neck, throat, and 

 the upper part of the body generally are of a rich 

 cinnamon brown, the feathers round the beak and on 

 the cheeks being of a darker hue. The breast and 

 sides of the body are white, but all the feathers are 

 bordered with heart-shaped black markings, so that 

 they appear speckled ; the lower part of the body is 

 white, the upper tail-coverts are speckled like the sides, 

 the rest of the tail is brown, as are the wings. The 

 hen is very like the cock in plumage. The latter has 

 a very droll little twittering song, scarcely audible 

 excepting at the conclusion, which ' is like a feeble 

 kitten's cry. Evidently the hen thinks it very beautiful, 

 for she generally puts her head close to her mate's 

 while he is singing, and looks admiringly into his face, 

 as if unwilling to lose a note. They eat canary-seed 

 and millet, and will live many years in confinement, 

 but do not easily breed, either in an aviary or a cage. 



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