PASSERINE BIRDS. l6l 



of a silvery whiteness on the under side ; the tail is entirely black ; the eyes brown, the eyelids red ; 

 the beak a bright rose colour, edged and tipped with pearly white ; the feet are reddish. Many 

 varieties of plumage are found among the members of this group, some few of them being entirely 

 white. 



The Rice Birds are found all over Southern Asia, as also Java and Sumatra, and are very numerous 

 on the former of these islands. Like our Field Sparrow, they inhabit the agricultural districts, 

 frequenting woods, gardens, or bushes, from the month of November until March or April — during 

 which time the fields of rice are under water — and subsisting upon such seeds and small fruits, insects 

 or worms, as they can glean from the shrubs or bushes ; but no sooner does the water disappear, and 

 the rice begin to ripen, than they leave everything to attack it, and would do incalculable damage were 

 not prompt means taken by the natives to protect themselves against their ravages. As an effectual 

 means of scaring away these feathered thieves small watch-towers are erected upon bamboo poles, 

 placed in the rice-fields at no great distance from each other ; connected with these little buildings are 

 numerous strings and thin slips of bamboo, to which are attached a profusion of large dry leaves, dolls, 

 wooden clappers, and similar objects, the whole of this grotesque network being agitated from time to 

 time by a native perched within the tower, like a great spider in the centre of its web, who thus 

 produces a series of gymnastic performances by the dolls, and such noises with the clappers as are 

 sufficient to 'frighten the boldest trespasser. Even after harvest-time is over, abundance of food is 

 procured by these gleaners from among the stubble in the rice-fields, in which thousands of ears lie 

 buried, this supply being still further increased by the incredibly rapid growth of innumerable weeds, 

 that spring up in all directions when the rice is cut, and soon furnish a rich banquet of quickly ripened 

 seeds. At this season tne Rice Birds are fat and delicate, and the young especially are much sought 

 after, as affording a dainty dish to the inhabitants of the country, and a source of amusement to their 

 children, who drag them about the streets fastened to the end of a long string, as a sort of living toy. 

 The nests of these birds are built of grass, and placed sometimes on the summit of a tree, sometimes 

 among the creeping plants that cover its trunk ; in the former case, they are usually of large size, and 

 in shape like the half of a sphere, whilst under the latter circumstances they are much smaller, and 

 more irregular in their construction. The brood consists of from six to eight brilliantly white eggs 

 (see Coloured Illustration, Plate IV., Fig. 7), about nine lines in length. In its disposition the Rice 

 Bird is quarrelsome, and its feeble notes are quite unworthy of being called a song. 



THE LITTLE GOLDBREAST. 



The Little Goldbreast (Pytelia subflava) will furnish us with the best type of the STRIPED 

 FINCHES, whose distinguishing characteristics are the long and pointed beak, slightly vaulted at its 

 roof, its origin being nearly at right angles with the forehead; the length of the second quill of the 

 wings, and the short and rounded tail. The plumage of the upper part of the body is of an olive- 

 green or greyish tint, somewhat lighter beneath, and delicately striped upon the sides of the body. 

 In size the Goldbreast does not exceed from three and a half, to three and three-quarter inches, 

 the span of the wings five and a half inches, the length of the wing two and a half, and of the 

 tail one and one-sixth inches. The plumage is more varied in colour than in others of its 

 family; the entire upper portion of the body is olive green, and the hinder part brownish red; a 

 red line passes over the eyes, the throat is white, the upper part of the breast and under tail-covers 

 orange, the sides of the belly greyish olive, marked with white crescent-shaped spots, and its middle 

 lemon yellow ; the tail is black, and the feathers edged with white at their extremities ; the back 

 and legs are red. 



We are entirely ignorant as to the habits of these birds when in their native lands, and can 

 21 



