THE NUTMEG BIRD 



j ""^HE nutmeg bird or spotted munia (Uro- 

 loncha punctulata} is second only to the 

 amadavat as an aviary favourite. The two 

 species are almost invariably caged together* 

 This is, perhaps, the reason why I was once gravely 

 assured by a lady that the spotted munia is the hen 

 and the amadavat the cock of one and the same species ! 

 Needless to say, the birds, although relatives, belong to 

 different genera. The stouter bill of the spotted munia 

 proclaims this. In colour the beak is bluish black or 

 dark slate colour, and contrasts strongly with the 

 chocolate-brown of the head, neck, back, wings, and 

 tail. The breast is white with a number of black rings, 

 which give it the appearance of a nutmeg-grater, hence 

 the popular name of the bird. Fanciers go one better 

 and call it the spice bird. If in years to come the 

 former name be forgotten, etymologists will put their 

 wise heads together and puzzle and wrangle over the 

 derivation of the name " spice bird " ! 



The habits of the spotted munia are those of the 

 amadavat. Like the latter, it seems to thrive in cap- 

 tivity ; it also loves warmth, and likes to go to roost with 

 a warm companion on each side of it. Red and spotted 

 munias live together very amicably in a cage ; but as 



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