214 A HAND-BOOK OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 



Hab. — West Africa. 



Length of life in captivity. 

 About three years. 



(66) THE PABADISE WHYDAH BIRD. 



(VIDUA PAHADISEA— {Linn.) ) 



Description. — In form and size it resembles a Munia ; the distin- 

 guishing characteristic of the birds of this genus is the extraordinary 

 length of their tails ; in this species a run 3 also is developed. 



Hab. — West Africa. 



Length of life in captivity. 

 About three years. 



Tbeatment in health. 



Housing. — Both the crimson-crowned weaver and the Paradise 

 whydah birds have done well in large side cages with such small and 

 harmless companions as munias and Java sparrows. 



Food. — Seeds of various kinds. 



Observations on their habits. 



The crimson-crowned weaver-bird is very shy, the Paradise whydah 

 is restless, active, and to a certain extent sociable. While restlessly 

 moving about from perch to perch, the latter has the curious habit of 

 constantly raising its head and looking up to the roof of the cage. 



(67) THE BLACK-HEADED MUNIA. . 



(MUNIA MALACCA— {Linn.) ) 



All the munias that have from time to time been exhibited in the 

 garden are extremely common and familiar birds in Lower Bengal, and 

 therefore no description is necessary for any of them. 



Hab. — Southern and Central India and Ceylon, rarely Bengal. 



(68) THE CHESTNUT-BELLIED MUNIA.) 

 (MUNIA ATEICAPILLA— {Vieill.) ) 



Hab. — Throughout Bengal and the foot and the lower ranges of 

 the Himalayas ; rare in Southern India, though specimens are sometimes 

 met with in the eastern coast of Madras ; Ceylon and Tenasserim ; num- 

 bers of them occur within a few miles of Calcutta, where stragglers are 

 generally found. 



