THE FINCHES. 89 



inhabiting the lower ranges of the Himalayas, and extend- 

 ing east to Tenasserim, South China, and Sumatra ; but 

 it is not common in India. 



The other Munias are far less interesting than these 

 domestic ones, and, as I said above, are hardly worth 

 keeping as pets. Besides the Spotted and the Black- 

 headed species mentioned, the Silver-bill (Uroloncha 

 malabarica}* is very common ; it is a little drab bird, 

 creamy-white below, with a blue bill and a long sharp 

 black tail. There are several less common species which 

 need not be mentioned ; they are all easy to keep, like 

 those I have dealt with. Except the domestic species, how- 

 ever, Munias do not breed at all freely in captivity ; in this 

 the} 7 differ much from a near relative of theirs, which is 

 often imported, and deserves special notice. 



THE ZEBRA FINCH (Tceniopygia castanotis),* sometimes 

 called the Rockhampton Finch, is a native of Australia, 

 and has become very popular with bird-keepers. It is a 

 very tiny creature, only about four inches long, with a 

 stout bill like the Munias, but smaller feet. The plumage 

 is grey above and white below, and the tail is black, with 

 some large spots of white at the root above. There are 

 two vertical black stripes on the face, and the bill is 

 sealing-wax red, the feet being of a duller red. 



The cock can easily be distinguished from the hen ; he 

 has an orange patch on each cheek, his breast is crossed 

 by fine black lines, and along his flanks runs a chestnut 

 band with white dots ; altogether he is a very fine little 

 fellow. The young are at first like the hen, but with 

 black instead of red bills. 



