230 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



" ' The eggs of this species, and I have a vast series from different 

 parts of the country, are typically elongated ovals, more or less pointed 

 towards the small end ; and although single eggs of this bird and U. 

 malabarica are compared, the more elongated character of the former is 

 very marked. They are, when fresh, before blowing, a delicate pinky- 

 white, the shells, as in the case of so many pure white eggs, being 

 partially translucent ; when emptied of their contents, the shells are 

 like little balls of snow, pure, dead, spotless, and glossless white, 

 occasionally, as is the case always with similar eggs, more or less 

 discoloured, if incubation has been at all prolonged.' ' 



My private opinion is that the two Indian forms M. punctulata 

 and M. subundulata represent the "Nutmeg Finch" or "Spice-bird," 

 and " Bar- breasted Finch " of English dealers ; but there is so much 

 confusion in the application of the scientific names, scientists and 

 dealers using these appellations in a different sense that, in spite of 

 several letters from Mr. Abrahams, I do not see my way clear. It 

 would seem that M. punctulata of scientists (which is U. nisoria of 

 Jerdon and of the trade) is the Spice Finch of the scientists and the 

 Bar-breasted Finch of the trade. Then apparently M. subundulata 

 (plus M. nisoria) becomes the Spice Finch of the dealers, for which 

 Major Godwin-Austin did not propose a trivial name. 



Writing in November, 1893, Mr. Abrahams says : " There are 

 three varieties of Spice-bird, Munia punctularia is the common Spice- 

 bird with the greyish rump, Munia nisoria is called the Bar-breasted 

 Finch and has a golden-brown rump ; this is the bird you have, I 

 think ; and the third kind is Munia topela, the Topela Finch." 



Unfortunately the true M. punctulata of Linnseus is the species 

 with the golden-brown rump according to Dr. Sharpe; at least he calls 

 it "straw-yellow, with a golden gloss;" but of M. subundulata he says 

 " pale straw-yellow with an olive tinge, and a shade of hoary olive 

 pervades the tail," which seems to represent the " greyish " (as con- 

 trasted with the " golden-brown ") of Mr. Abrahams' letter.* 



Under the circumstances, I prefer to use the title of "Spice-bird" 

 only, and leave aviarists to settle the naming of the races to suit 

 themselves. 



In July, 1894, Mr. Abrahams kindly sent me a pair of the Topela 

 Finch, about which happily there is no confusion. 



Dr. Russ says: "In my bird-room the Javan Nutmeg Finch built 



* On the other hand it is possible that the Malayan Spice Finch, which has a greyish shade 

 over the rump, may be the M. punctularia intended by Mr. Abrahams : only its real name is 

 M. nisoria and it does not come from India. A.G.B. 



