MUNIA PUNCTULATA. 657 



A closely allied race exists in M. punctularia from Malacca and the Malayan archipelago, which merely differs in 

 having the upper tail-coverts greyish brown, the longer feathers being tinged with obscure yellowish ; and the 

 tail darker brown, with the central feathers tinged with greyish. It is slightly shorter in the wing — specimens 

 from Bali, Timor, Makassar, and Malacca varying from 2-0 to 2-1 inches ; the lunulations of the under surface 

 have a reddish tinge as distinguished from the almost pure black in the generality of specimens of M. punctulata. 

 An example from Nepal and another from Behar have the under-surface markings on the breast quite rufous. 



Distribution. — The Spotted " Pinch " is the most numerous of the family of Munias inhabiting Ceylon. 

 It is abundant both in the north and south of the island and on the east and west coasts, frequenting the 

 sea-board as much as the interior. In the Kandyan country it is common up to elevations of 2500 feet in 

 open localities ; and in Uva, where patna-land is so widespread, it is found nearly up to 4000 feet. I have 

 met with it at this altitude in the Badulla and Madulsima districts, and I doubt not that it possibly ranges 

 still higher between the former place and Hakgala, in which neighbourhood not a few low-country birds are 

 found during the N.E. monsoon. In the west and south of the island it far outnumbers its congeners 

 wherever the country is open or cultivated, but is not so plentiful in jungle-districts as the nest species. 



It is well known to the inhabitants of Colombo, who have frequent occasion of observing it in their 

 afternoon drives round the ornamental " circular " in the cinnamon-gardens. 



In India it is very abundant, inhabiting the peninsula throughout in suitable localities, and ranging 

 more towards the east of the continental portion of the empire than the west. Jerdon says that it is rare in the 

 extreme south ; and I notice that Dr. Fairbank only observed it twice in thin jungle on the lower Palani 

 hills. They are migratory to the Nilghiris, appearing there, according to Miss Cockburn, from June till 

 October. It is singular that this species should be so common in Ceylon when it is not abundant on the 

 adjoining mainland. Mr. Hume, generalizing, says that it only breeds, as a rule, in well-wooded and well- 

 watered tracts ; but, notwithstanding, Jerdon affirms that it does not occur on the Malabar coast, although he 

 found it in various parts of the Carnatic and Central India. In the Ahmednugur district it is rare according 

 to Dr. Fairbank, but in parts of the Deccan it is common and breeds (Davidson and IVender) . From the 

 extended eastern region lying between the Mahanadi and Ganges rivers Mr. Ball records it as occurring on the 

 Rajmehal hills, and in the Manbhum, Lowardugga, and Singhbhum districts of Chota Nagpur ; also in 

 Sambalpur, Raipur, and the Godaveri valley. Mr. Cripps states that in Furreedpore, Eastern Bengal, it is 

 nowhere common ; but during the rainy season a few pairs are seen about hedgerows and cultivated fields, and 

 they breed in the district from June to August. Further to the north-east it becomes scarce. Captain Beavan 

 observed it at Barrackpore ; but beyond this I cannot find any certain evidence of the existence of true 

 •punctulata. Mr. Inglis did not meet with it in North-eastern Cachar, and beyond this another allied species 

 exists in the M. subundulata of Godwin-Austen. Mr. Hume, in commenting on Mr. Oates's notes on this 

 species in Pegu, which was said by him to be by far the commonest Munia there, says that the specimens 

 were destroyed ; and we have not since been informed whether the species inhabiting that province really is 

 the same as the continental Indian bird or identical with the Tenasserim allied race, M. superstriata, Hume. 

 Returning towards the west we find that at Mount Aboo it is, according to Captain Butler, common, asso- 

 ciating in large flocks in the hot weather and breeding in September ; but Mr. Hume adds that it occurs in 

 no other part of the whole region (Sindh, Cutch, Kattiawar, and Jodhpoor), although Mr. Adam saw it once 

 in the rainy season at the Sambhur Lake. 



From Lower Bengal it extends to the sub-Himalayan district, and appears to be found throughout it from 

 Darjiling to the North-west Himalayas, whence there are specimens in the British Museum. 



Habits. — This sociable little Munia chiefly frequents open land, grass- and pasture-fields, gardens and 

 compounds around native villages, paddy-fields, and patna-hills in the Central Province. It consorts in large 

 flocks and is almost entirely terrestrial in its habits, feeding in close contact on the ground, and tripping 

 nimbly about among the grass. It is very destructive to the paddy, alighting on the stalk and picking out 

 the grain, in spite of the shouts of watch-boys, the outstretched arms of the many uncouth scarecrows, and 

 loud knockings of the ingenious bamboo " clappers," devised by the natives for the protection of their crops. 

 It is at all times very tame, showing no fear of man, and when raised from the ground by his approach flies 

 for a short distance and settles down again. Its ordinary note is a plaintive whistle, and this is often 



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