222 BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



some authorities they are considered a distinct family, 

 though they admit that it is hardly to be distinguished 

 from the Finch family. All are small, Sparrow-hke 

 birds, and feed principally on seeds and insects. 



The Amaduvade, or Strawberry-finch, is very popu- 

 lar as a cage-bird, and is imported into European 

 markets in enormous numbers. The male in breeding 

 plumage is very beautiful, and, in addition, has a brief 

 but sweet song, which is said to resemble a bugle-call. 

 The female is less brilliant, being brown above, with a 

 light patch of red on the rump, and buff -coloured be- 

 low. These birds moult twice during the year, and 

 after the breeding season the male assumes the dress of 

 the female. The males are pugnacious little birds, and 

 fight with spirit, on which account they are kept by 

 the natives in India to afford them sport. See Plate 

 17, Fig. 96. 



The Java Sparrow, as its name implies, is a native 

 of the Island of Java, where, like the House-sparrow 

 here, it is a pest. In the countries where it has been 

 introduced it commits great ravages on fields of grain 

 and rice. Of late years the Java Sparrow has become 

 much sought after as a cage-bird, and breeds readily 

 in confinement. From the domesticated birds a white 

 race has been raised, which is highly prized. See 

 Plate 17, Fig. 99. 



Though popularly called a "Sparrow," this bird is 

 not really very closely related to the true Sparrows, 

 such as the House- and Tree-sparrows. 



The Buntings are generally regarded as forming a 

 sub-family of the Finches. Many of them are 

 brightly coloured, but others, such as the Corn Bunt- 



