22 MALAYAN OttNITHOLOGT. 



tail-coverts very prettily marked with alternate crescents of white 

 and brown, abdomen dull white, irides chocolate. 



The other three were similar to the above, but not so distinctly 

 marked ; two of them were almost without the crescentic markings 

 on the breast and upper tail-coverts. 



All four were slightly under 4J inches in length, and had the 

 legs plumbeous. 



In April, 1877, I shot an adult male out of a party of eight 

 which were flitting about some bushes on the banks of the Perak 

 river. 



Breast clove-brown, the feathers edged and shafted with dusky 

 white, abdomen dirty white, marked with dull brown, under tail- 

 coverts brown. 



While flying, the bird's white rump and pointed tail were very 

 noticable. 



This species extends eastward to China. While I was stationed 

 at Hongkong, in May, 1878, a pair of these Munias built among 

 the top branches of a bamboo-clump, over 20 feet from the ground, 

 but within two yards of my verandah ; the nest was a large domed 

 mass of dry grass and reeds, and without any soft lining. 



Though apparently loosely put together, the nest and contents 

 were quite unharmed by a gale which bent the bamboo almost 

 to the ground ; on 3rd June there were four eggs, pure white in 

 colour, as are those of all Munias. 



Amadina otcyziyora (Linn.). The Java Sparrow. 



Found only in Singapore, where it is common, particularly in 

 the neighbourhood of the Botanic Gardens at Tanglin. 



Not being met with on the mainland, I think Ihere can be 

 little doubt that it has been introduced into Singapore. Pro- 

 bably in the first instance it was confined in some of the aviaries 

 iu the Gardens, whence individuals having escaped have bred 

 and firmly established their species on the island. 



The}' are very tame, frequenting the roads and feeding in com- 

 pany with the common Sparrows (Passer montanus). During 

 July, 1879, two pairs had their nests under the eaves of our mess 

 M Tanglin, and continually flew to and fro within a few feet of 

 passers-by. 



