1 86 On the Origin of BengaUse.


I suppose that Munia, as being more embracing, is a better name

than Uroloncha.


I have since received the January Avicultural Magazine

with Dr. Butler's interesting article on this subject, so must write

a little more, if only to vouch for the fact that U. striata had

nothing to do with the production of the ''wild" Bengalese in

my aviary. My favourite old pair produced two in a two-thirds

husk right against the wire, about four feet off the ground, within

three feet of my chair where I work, read, and spend most of my

spare time carpentering, with one eye on the birds. This pair

have easily recognised marking. The third wild one came from

an equally recognisable pair, and the nest was but little further

off. The Striated Finches are much more timid and only came

near my end to feed.


Bengalese are often given to chummeries, sometimes six to

a nesting place, and occasionally bring up a few young, but I

have found that a properly mated pair is as jealous of intruders

in the nest as a Zebra Finch, except that the latter considers

more of the adjoining territory as his " compound." All that

the Bengalee requires is that no bird shall come on to his nest or

nest-perch. For breeding results I prefer one pair to three

chummeries.


I have taken such a long time to get this off that I am now

very much tempted to wait for the February Avicultural Magazine

to probably add some more, but I think this is long enough

already, so will finish up with saying that I think Dr. Butler's

description of his Bengalee-Striated hybrid (?) rather strengthens

the case for U. acuticauda. I only wish to remark that I do not

differ in a captious spirit from Dr. Butler, from whose writing I

have experienced much pleasure.


G. A. Pkrreau (Capt.)

Bakloh, Punjab, India, 2/4 Gurkha Rifles.


12th February, 1907.



