352



Dr. A. G. Butler,



According to Russ. Mr. Hawkins also records a cross

between U. striata var. and Munia castaneithorax, and the Con-

tessa Baldelli between U. striata var. and Spermestes cucullata,

the hybrids proving fertile.


Uroloncha acuticauda x U. striata.


,, ,, x Aidemosyne cantans (Dell).


Mimia punctulata x Aidemosyne cantans.


,, ,, x Uroloncha striata, var.


The last two are recorded by Russ and have been subse¬

quently bred by Messrs. Lambert and Rabbicli respectively. As

might perhaps be expected from their evident relationship the

hybrids produced by crossing the Spice-bird and African Silver-

bill were almost exactly intermediate between the two.


Munia castaneithorax x Uroloncha striata, var.


,, ,, x Munia atricapilla.


,, ,, x Munia maja.


I have also figured a hybrid between M. castaneithorax and

Aidemosyne malabarica (Foreign Bird-Keeping, part I., p. 54).


Munia atricapilla x Munia castaneithorax.


,, „ x Munia maja.


Both recorded by Russ ; but an example of the second was

at one time advertized for sale by Mr. Harper.


Mu?iia maja X Poephila cincta.


,, ,, X Uroloncha striata, var.


,, ,, x Munia castaneithorax.


,, ,, X Munia atricapilla.


Munia (. Padda ) oryzivora X Aidemosyne cantans.


Mr. Abrahams also told me that he had seen a cross be¬

tween the Java Sparrow and the Ribbon-finch, which induced me

to put up a pair for breeding; I kept them together in a flight-

cage for about two years and the hen (Java Sparrow) laid innu¬

merable eggs, all of which were clear: I strongly suspect that a

Red-headed finch was the true parent of the bird seen by Mr.

Abrahams, its size being nearer to that of the Java Sparrow;

yet it is odd that the much smaller Silverbill should have suc¬

cessfully produced mules with a Java Sparrow when a Ribbon-

finch failed to do so.



