224 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



more restricted than in the Indian species, and the barring on the 

 flanks more dusky blackish." 



" Hab. Southern China, Formosa, and Hainan." 



Munia nisoria, TEMM. 



Owing to the confusion between this race and the typical form, 

 the trivial name has been misapplied : I should, therefore, suggest that 

 this should be called the Malayan Spice Finch. Dr. Sharpe gives the 

 following characters : 



" A grey shade over the rump and tail, with scarcely any olive- 

 yellow ; the rump-feathers are like those of M. (ope/a, plain, with a 

 pale edging, but with indications of two dusky bars." " I am not sure 

 that these light bars are not signs of age." " Hab. Malayan Penin- 

 sula ; Java." 



With regard to the Philippine form, M. cabanisi, it is doubtful 

 whether it is ever imported, and, therefore, I need not indicate its 

 characters. 



I have already mentioned that a pair of Spice-birds formed part 

 of my first purchase of Foreign Finches : these were certainly not typical 

 M. pundulata, for they could not only be at once distinguished by the 

 redder appearance of the barring on the breast, but by their possession 

 of a distinct song, not unlike that of the Bengalee. Unfortunately, 

 when they died, I had no idea of ever publishing anything upon the 

 habits of my feathered friends, and consequently omitted to preserve 

 their skins. 



The song of the common form is a weak metallic vibration, 

 followed by a laboured creaking, repeated three times, and terminating 

 in a thin, long-drawn whistle, only just audible. Like all the Manni- 

 kins, this bird is a most industrious builder, and readily lays in a 

 covered nest-box, but I have never been successful in breeding it. 



Jerdon, speaking of the typical form (M. pundulata) under the 

 name of Spermestes nisoria, says : " I obtained this pretty species on 

 the Neilgherries, frequenting long grass and bushes, and feeding on 

 various seeds, in small parties of four or five. It is met with occasionally 

 in various parts of the country, as in Mysore, and some of the more 

 wooded spots, near large towns in the table-land." 



Pearson, however, says that it " Flies in large flocks, and is to be 

 met with in most parts of Bengal." 



Later on, Jerdon calls this species Munia undulata, and stated that 

 " the nearly allied M. punctularia (nisoria of Temininck) occurs in the 

 Malayan provinces." The following is his account of the species : 



