654 MUNIA MALACCA. 



(" China and Java ") does not accord with that of our bird. It was from this that Linnteus took his distribution, as 

 Edwards does not give any ; and it is probable that Brisson took his idea from information received from sailors 

 and travellers, in those days a not very reliable source. We find no mention of this species in China made either 

 by Swinhoe or Pere David ; and Baffles merely gives the name in his Catalogue of Sumatran birds (Trans. Linn. Soc. 

 xiii. p. 313), without any note whatever, so that his identification might have been incorrect. Blyth stated that 

 "the true Mania malacca from Borneo (in Mr. Wallace's collection) is distinct from the Indian race" (Ibis, 1867, 

 p. 40). I have carefully looked over the museum collection with Mr. Sharpe, and I find no such skin of Wallace's ; 

 and I think it is best to rely on the evidence given by Edwards's plate, and leave the long-adopted nomenclature 

 of the species undisturbed. Salvadori includes it in bis Bornean list of birds on the authority of others, but is 

 himself under the impression that M. atricapilla has been mistaken for it. 



Distribution. — This fine Munia is common in the south of the island, particularly in the district lying 

 between the Bentota river, round the south-west coast to the Wallaway river. Between Galle and the Kukkul 

 Korale forests it is found in wild paddy-fields and small cultivated tracts of land near the inland villages in 

 that wooded region. I met with it close to the sea between Tangalla and Hambantota, but did not see it in 

 the coast-district east of the latter place. It reappears in the Park country, and is not uncommon between 

 Batticaloa and Madulsima ; it ascends into the hills between Bibile and Badulla, and inhabits all that region 

 and the Uva patna-basin in considerable numbers, luxuriating in the long grass and tangled vegetation which 

 clothe the maze of hills between Udu Pusselawa and Haputale. In the western parts of the Kandy country 

 it is far less common. It does not seem to be common in the Western Province, except in certain localities, 

 such as the sylvan paddy-fields in the lower part of the Pasdun Korale ; there I found it plentiful not far from 

 Agalewatta. It inhabits the east coast from Batticaloa northward as far as Trincomalie and the neighbour- 

 hood ; but further north it appears to be rare. 



On the mainland it has a restricted range, being chiefly confined to the south of the peninsula, " a few 

 stragglers," according to Jerdon, "occurring in Central India, and even in Bengal occasionally." He remarks 

 that it is very abundant in some parts of Southern India, especially on the Malabar coast. I do not find it 

 recorded by Mr. Bourdillon from the Travancore hills, nor from the Palanis by Dr. Fairbank. Mr. A. G. 

 Theobald found it in the Coimbatore district. Mr. Hume includes it in Mr. Ball's list of birds inhabiting the 

 region between the Ganges and the Godaveri, noting it as having been procured at Raipur. In the Bhundara 

 district it was found nesting by Mr. Blewitt. 



Habits. — The "Chestnut-backed Finch" affects paddy- and grass-fields, situated among the woods and 

 forests, and is also found in marshy land about tanks and water-holes. In the hills it is partial to the 

 maaua-grass patnas, and those covered with tangled bushes and rank vegetation. It is very destructive in 

 the paddy-fields of the Kandyans, necessitating the constant presence of call-boys, and the erection of all 

 manner of scarecrows, for the protection of their crops. Like the two following species it is very sociable, 

 feeding in large flocks, which arc quite sufficient to inflict heavy damage in the fields of the hard-working 

 Cingalese cultivator. It is very fond of the seed of the maaua-grass, and that of various reeds and rushes 

 which grow in swamps and marshy spots. Its note is like that of the common species M. punctulata, but 

 stronger, and its flight is also similar. Jerdon writes of this species : — -" It frequents long grass by the sides 

 of rivers and tanks, occasionally dry grain-fields, and very commonly sugar-cane fields ; it often associates in 

 very large flocks." 



Nidifi cation. — This Munia breeds often gregariously. The season of its nesting lasts from May until 

 August. In the former month I found many nests among the gigantic "maana "-grass and tangled "brackens" 

 which cover the Uva patnas; and in the latter I found it nesting, a number together, among reeds near Ham- 

 bantota, in company with the Baya (Ptoceus manijar?). The nest is sometimes placed in a low bush ; but it 

 is more frequently built in grass and "brackens." It is a large, strongly made, globular structure, composed 

 of the material nearest to hand, either blades of grass and roots, or strips of reeds, with a large unfinished- 

 looking opening at the side. The interior is roomy, and in some cases very deep, and is lined with flowering 

 grass-stalks or fine grass itself. The eggs vary from four to six in number, but most commonly do not exceed 



