THE STRIATED FINCH. 217 



season of the White-backed Munia varies, apparently, very mnch 

 according to locality. In the Nilghiris they appear to lay in July 

 and August. From Yarkand (Central Asia) a nest was sent me, taken 

 on the 28th of September, containing six eggs. Near Raipur (Central 

 India) a nest was taken in January, and at Maunbhoom in April. A 

 nest secured by Mr. F. R. Blewitt, in the neighbourhood of Raipiir, 

 on the 2nd of January, was a very large, loose, partially domed, oval 

 shaped structure, composed interiorly of very fine grass stems, ex- 

 teriorly of coarser grass, largely intermingled with dry bamboo leaves. 

 Exteriorly the nest was about eight inches in height, and five inches 

 in diameter. The cavity, the aperture of which was a little on one 

 side, and nearly at the top, was nearly five inches deep and about 

 three inches in diameter. The nest was very loosely and coarsely 

 put together. It was placed on a branch of a Karounda (Carissa 

 caroundd) bush, about five feet high, growing on the bank of a nullah." 



Mr. E. Aitken writes : " I once found a nest of this Munia in 

 Bombay, about twelve feet from the ground, I think, in a small tree. 

 I took no note of it at the time, but I recollect that they had two 

 young ones flying about with them soon after. Perhaps, however, 

 some particulars of a pair that bred in a cage may be useful. The 

 nest was a darkened compartment, which they filled with fine grass 

 which I gave them. I could not watch their operations too closely 

 for fear of frightening them ; but I took some notes. First, they laid 

 an egg with a soft shell, and broke it ; so I supplied them with chalk 

 and old egg-shells, and they began again. This time I thought the 

 female laid three eggs ; but only two young were forthcoming, and if 

 she had another egg they must have disposed of it themselves. I 

 supplied them with bread and yolk of egg, with which the male 

 assiduously fed the female, all the time of incubation, and for ten 

 days after the young were hatched. During these ten days I only 

 saw the female twice. After that they shared the duty of feeding 

 their offspring between them." 



Miss M. B. Cockburn tells us that "The White-backed Munia is 

 not a resident on the Nilghiris, but accompanies the Amaduvades and 

 Spotted Munias in their migrations, and is generally met with in 

 their company, except in the breeding season, when they are seen 

 alone and in pairs. They are not numerous and are very shy, never 

 approaching any house. In this respect they are quite unlike the 

 Spotted Munia, whose unceremoniousness endears him to us. The 

 White-backed Munia's nest resembles that of the Spotted Munia, being 

 a large accumulation of grass, with a small opening at one side. 



