1840.] 



of the Peninsula of India, 



27 



173. — S. leuconota.^F. leuconofa, Temm., P. C. 500—1.— ioa?. striata. 

 Lath. ? — While mmped Finch. 



I have only hitherto observed this species in the Malabar 

 coast, and the Wynaad, frequenting grain-fields, open spaces in 

 the jangle, and occasionally seen on the road-side, and even 

 in stable yards, feeding on various kinds of grain and seeds. 

 It lives in small flocks of six, eight or more. Irides dark brown; 

 bill and legs, slate blue. Length 4-j-4_ths ; wing 2^-^W\\ tail lyV^^^sj 

 tarsus -^i-ths ; bill to front -^Q-ths. 



174. — S. Malacca,— Loxia Malacca^ Auct. ?— iVM^^?ioy5, H.— iJ^ac/^- 

 headed Finch, 



The mckl- nor e so nearly approaches the description of the Loxia Ma" 

 lacca of authors, that I shall here consider it as the same. I have seen 

 this bird in the Carnatic, frequenting long reeds and grass, by the side 

 , of rivers, in the table land in similar situations, though more rare, and 

 most numerous in the wooded region of the west coast, frequenting grain-^ 

 fields in large flocks along with the last species, 



I shall here add a brief description. Male,— head, neck and breast of 

 a rich black ; body above of a chestnut brown ; the ujDper tail coverts 

 of a brighter tinge, and with a glistening lustre, as in -S. 7iisoria, belly 

 white with large central spot and vent black ; bill bluish at base, 

 yellowish at tip ; legs plumbeous. Length 4| ; wing 2y2_ths ; tail I 

 ^*-ths; tarsus ^iths ; bill at front ^iths. Irides dark brown. Female — 

 or young ? — above of a pale cinnamon brown, darkest on the headj 

 beneath rufous white, darkest on throat and neck. 



175. — S. cheet, — Lonchura cheet, Sykes. — Pidderee, H. — Small irowtk 

 Finch, 



This plain coloured little ^nch is found all over the peninsula, 

 living in families, and frequenting hedges, low trees in cultivated 

 ground, and low bushes on the open plain, or by a river side. It fre- 

 quently enters gardens, and feeds on various kinds of seeds. Colonel 

 Sykes describes its nest as being formed of grass, in the shape of a 

 hollow ball, and that he found in one nest ten wbftlr eggs, not much 

 larger than peas. Irides deep brown j bill bluish; Tegs dirty reddish. 

 Length about 5 inches ; tail 2. 



