MTTNIA KELAAETI. 651 



Wynaad, Coorg, Travancore, and other hills, has the throat and chest deep brownish black, and the underparts. 

 from the breast downwards, a salmon or reddish-fawn colour, without any dark markings ; the upper parts are 

 dark brown, the feathers with pale yellowish shafts. 



Distribution. — This handsome little Finch, the only species of the family peculiar to the island, was 

 discovered by Dr. Kelaart at Nuwara Elliya, where it is very common, and by him specimens were forwarded 

 to Blyth. It is essentially an alpine bird, not being found below an altitude of about 2000 feet, and is not 

 very numerous at that height. Its principal habitat is the Nuwara-Elliya plateau and the western coffee-districts 

 extending from the Peak forest (in clearings in which it is common), through Maskeliya, Dickoya, Dimbulla, 

 and Pusselawa, to parts of the Kandy district, and thence to the Knuckles, in the upper parts of which it is 

 found, but not, according to my observation, as commonly as on the south side of the Dumbara valley. In 

 Uva, about Badulla, and in Madulsima I found it less numerous than M . malacca, which is the common patna 

 Finch of that part. In Maturata and Hewahette it is tolerably frequent, but not more so than M. striata. 

 In the southern ranges (the Rakwana, Morowak, and Kukkul-Korale district) it is found above the altitude 

 mentioned. I observed that it was numerous in the bill-fields and small clearings about the hamlets on the 

 wilderness of the Peak. 



Habits. — The Hill-Munia, in its habits, differs considerably from all the succeeding species. It is 

 frequently found in the interior of the gloomiest forests ; it is unsociable, living for the most part in pairs 

 or in very small parties of three or four, except at night, when it comes together in flocks to roost ; it is 

 likewise a bird of more rapid flight than other Munias, Nature having afforded it the power of spanning the 

 deep ravines and gorges, among which it passes its life, with ease and rapidity. It darts swiftly across open 

 coffee-estates and patnas from one piece of jungle to another with an undulating flight, uttering a long-drawn, 

 sibilant note, which is audible at some distance, and is often heard without the swiftly flying little " Finch " 

 being itself perceived. It feeds on small seeds, frequenting the tall patna-grass when it is in flower, and 

 resorting to the kurrukan clearings in the Peak forest and Kukkul Korale, where it gorges itself with the 

 grain of that plant. I have noticed it in the early morning about the outhouses at Nuwara Elliya picking, 

 like Sparrows, on dunghills and rubbish-heaps ; and Mr. Holdsworth likewise observed it feeding on the roads 

 there like Sparrows on whatever [it could find. When not feeding it is both shy and restless. During a 

 sojourn in the Peak forest I observed that its appetite was satisfied at an early hour in the evening, and that 

 it then commenced to roam about and settle on dead trees, coming home from its feeding-grounds one by one, 

 and appearing to take some pains to find a good roosting-place. 



Nidification. — The " Nuwara-Elliya Finch " breeds from May until September, nesting often in the 

 upper branches of lofty, umbrageous trees, and at other times in coffee- and other low bushes, as well as in 

 the creepers trained up the verandahs of bungalows on the estates. Mr. Bligh informs me that he has known 

 a pair take possession of a Bulbul's nest, from which the rightful owners had been driven, and construct 

 therein a nest of their own. I noticed, with regard to a pair breeding in that gentleman's verandah at 

 Catton, that the female was a very close sitter, and returned to her nest shortly after being disturbed. 



This was in May; and in July following Mr. Bligh writes me : — " On the 16th I saw the Munia fly 

 out of the old nest in the verandah, and when I put my finger in the nest I found two eggs in it ; the old 

 bird was then sitting on them. I think it worth recording that they lay so soon after having reared their 

 first brood. I noticed that occasionally the young and old returned to the nest to sleep; they did not 

 make a practice of it ; it seems to be only when they take it into their heads to do so ; or it may be that 

 the old birds are thinking of another brood and begin to visit the nest for that purpose, and tolerate the 

 presence of the first brood while they are still young." 



The nest is made of grass, and usually globular in shape ; it is compact, and has a rather neatly rounded 

 entrance. The egg-cavity is deep and round, and lined with fine grass. The eggs are pointed ovals, pure white, 

 and glossy in texture. They measure from 0'65 to 0"68 inch in length, and - 44 to 0-46 inch in breadth. 



The figure in the Plate is that of a specimen shot in the Peak forest. 



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