352 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



The sexes are usually alike ; in a few that moult in spring, the 

 male is more richly colored than the female. They inhabit grassy 

 or reedy ground, bushy jungle, and open spaces in forests, 

 occasionally being found in immense flocks. There are two forms 

 found in India, one the Munias, with a thick tumid bill ; the other 

 the Amadavads, {Estrelda), with a more slender, conic, and 

 waxy red bill. 



Gen. Munia, Hodgson. 



Syn. Lonchura, Sykes — Spermestes, in part, Swainson. 



Char. — Bill very thick and at the base as deep as long, com- 

 pressed at the tip ; culmen arched, flattened, prolonged backward 

 to a point on the forehead ; gape strongly angulated ; nares round, 

 sunk and free ; wings short ; 1st primary minute, the three next 

 nearly equal ; tail moderate or short, rounded or wedged ; tarsus 

 stout, moderate ; toes long, slender ; claws long. 



The birds appertaining to this genus are found in India, Malay- 

 ana, and Australia, and almost all have the large beak of a pale 

 glaucous lead color. They are of small size, but larger than the 

 next group ; and build large, loosely-constructed nests of grass. 

 They feed much on rice, as well as on grass seeds ; are readily 

 domesticated ; and the young of most are light brown. 



697. Munia Malacca, Linnaeus. 



Loxia, apud Linnaeus — Edwards, Birds, pi. 355, f. 2 — 

 Blyth, Cat. 623— Horsf., Cat. 773— Jerdon, Cat. 174 — Nakal- 

 nor H. Nalla jinawayi, Tel. 



The Black-headed Munia. 



Descr. — Whole head, neck, and breast, rich black ; back, wings, 

 and tail, pure rich cinnamon red ; upper tail-coverts brighter 

 tinged, and with a glistening lustre ; beneath, from the breast, 

 white, with the middle of the abdomen and vent black. 



Bill bluish, yellowish at the tip; irides dark brown; legs 

 plumbeous. Length 4i inches ; wing 2-^ ; tail H. The young 

 bird is pale cinnamon brown above, whitish below, dusky about 

 the head and neck. 



