THE MAJA FINCH. 61 



ing, sleeping, dressing each other's head feathers and 

 singing their inarticulate song. 



I have seen a Japanese screen on which these 

 birds were depicted in a most life-like manner in the 

 act of making a raid upon a field of millet in the ear, 

 to which, I can readily believe, they would do no small 

 damage, for it is their favourite food, and, like their 

 connections with the dark headdress, they eat largely 

 for their size, and spoil a good deal more than they 

 actually consume. 



It is a pity to compel them to sleep on a straight 

 perch, for to do so is absolutely foreign to their nature 

 and must, I imagine, be very distasteful to them. 

 They are quite hardy when provided with a snug corner 

 to roost in, and I have no doubt might be induced to 

 breed by paying a little attention to their not very 

 exacting requirements. 



As both species are extremely cheap, say 3/- or 3/6 

 a couple, the experiment would not be a costly one, 

 even though it would be advisable to purchase a dozen 

 of the birds in order to secure a pair, for the sexes are 

 indistinguishable in outward appearance. 



Dr. Russ states that the Maja Finch has bred in his 

 aviary, and that the young are of paler brown than their 

 parents, and have jet black bills. Incubation, according 

 to the same authority, lasts for thirteen days. 



The scientific name is Munia maja. 



