222 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



the outside of dead leaves and coarse grass, and thickly lined with 

 fine flowering grass-stems, the ends of which projected beyond the 

 entrance, forming a short neck. 



" The nest measured about 9 by 5 inches, along the major axis, 

 and about 5 by 5 along its minor axis. 



"The eggs of this species are elongated ovals, pure white and 

 glossless, indistinguishable from those of nearly allied species." 



Dr. Russ considers this bird so closely related to the Striated 

 Finch, as hardly to be regarded as a distinct species. He says : " I 

 have had several examples to compare with it and could find no 

 difference whatever, excepting that the white of the lower body 

 appeared dirty brown, and on close examination marked with dark 

 brown scaling, the throat and upper breast finely streaked with white. 



" In the course of years I have only once been able to acquire 

 five head ; the striped Bronze-Maunikin, on the other hand, may be 

 obtained every year from Hagenbeck and Jamrach." Dr. Russ says 

 he was not successful in breeding this species : but there is not the 

 least doubt that its treatment would be precisely the same as in the 

 case of the allied species, and, therefore, it is not of very great con- 

 sequence. I purchased two males of the species for a few shillings in 

 1894, and from these my illustration is taken. 



During the last few years there have been plenty of specimens of 

 this bird in the market, and I have added one or two to my collection, 

 but there is nothing specially attractive about them. 



THE SPICE FINCH. 



Munia punctulata, LJN'N. 



T NHABITS the greater part of India and Ceylon, where it is ex- 

 1 tremely common. This and its races are among the most 

 abundantly imported species. 



Above, M. punctulata is reddish chocolate, with narrow whitish 



