IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL. 2 L J 



(69) THE WHITE-BACKED MUNIA. 



(UKOLONCHA STKIATA— {Linn.) ) 

 Bengali — Shikari munia. 

 Hab. — Chiefly Southern India, though not uncommon in Lower 

 Bengal, Arracan and Ceylon. 



(70) THE SPOTTED MUNIA. 

 (UKOLONCHA P UN C TUL AT A— {Linn.) ) 

 Hindi and Bengali — Tilia munia, sabz munia, 

 Hab. — Distributed throughout India and Ceylon, extending to 

 Assam, Burmah, and Tenasserim ; numbers of them are found in the 

 drier parts of Lower Bengal. 



(71) THE INDIAN EED MUNIA. 



(SPOE^EaiNTHUS AMANDAVA— {Linn.) ) 



Hindi and Bengali— Lai or Lai Munia. 



Hab. — Abundant in Lower Bengal and North-Western India and 



the lower ranges of the Himalayas, extending to Assam and Burmah ; 



somewhat rare in Southern India. 



Length of life in captivity. 



Some may have lived in the garden for three years or more, but no 

 record of the individual specimens has been kept. 



Treatment in health. 



Housing. — Munias may be kept in large sized cages, and generally 

 treated like the red-billed liothrix (No. 23). They, especially the 

 Indian red species, are sometimes kept in very small cages and tamed, 



Food. — Various kinds of seeds, especially kangni (Panicum itali- 

 cum) ; in captivity they learn to eat fruits and bread and milk. 



Observations on the habits of a Munia. 



Munias are extremely restless and playful birds, and are never silent 

 during the day, but always chirping ; the red munia sometimes whistles 

 beautifully ; they are generally very sociable. 



(72) THE JAVA SPAEEOW. 



(PADDA ORYZIVOEA— {Linn.) ) 



Description. — In size slightly larger than the munia, bill thick, 

 conical and stout, and of a cherry-red colour ; the prevailing colour of 



