I 32 1 
The Flowerpeckers have much shorter bills. The Scar- 
let-backed Flowerpecker or Supah putri [Dkaeum crmntatum) 
is a well-known Singapore bird. 
FINCHES. 
Of Finches only two or three species are known from the 
Malay Peninsula. Of these the Tree Sparrow or B. pipit 
(Passer montanus) is as common in Singapore as the House 
Sparrow { P, domesticus) is anywhere in Europe. The crown of 
the head of the latter is ashy grey, whilst that of the former is 
chocolate brown. Both have a wide distribution, ranging over 
Europe and the greater part of Asia, except that in the Malay 
region only the Tree Sparrow is found The so-called ' Java 
Sparrow * belongs to the Weaver Birds. 
WEAVER BIRDS. 
The Weaver Birds have their name from the large flask- 
shaped nests, with tubular entrance, of which numbers are 
occasionally seen suspended from the branches of a single tree. 
The nests are made of grass and are strongly woven. The 
Eastern Baya or Tempua ( Plocctts megarhynchus} is the best 
known of these birds. The Java Sparrow, alsocailed Rice Bird 
or Paddy Bird, the Gelatok of the Malays [Munia orysivora), 
belongs to a sub-family of the Weaver Birds. Its nest is not 
suspended, but built between the branches of bushes ; it is of 
globular shape and has a small opening at the side. It is a 
well-known cage bird in Europe. 
STARLINGS. 
The Starlings include several familiar birds. The Com- 
mon Glossy Starling or B. perling (Cahfnis chalybeius), with 
shining black plumage, may at times be seen in hundreds on a 
single tree. Much larger are the Burmese Crackle or Talking 
Myna (Eulabes or Mainatus intermedia), and the Javanese 
Grackle {Eulabes javanensis), both with black plumage and 
yellow wattles along the head. They are favourite cage birds 
and easily learn to talk. Their Malay name is ' Tiong,' from 
their usual call. A curious looking bird is the Bald Grackle 
fSarcops athmj, from the Philippines, with its bare, pink head. 
BIRDS OF PREY. 
The Birds of Prey consists of two groups, the Owls 
{Strigiformes)r and the * Hawk-Hke Birds * {Accipiirifarmes}, the 
latter comprising (a) Vultures, {b) Hawks and Eagles, and (r) 
Ospreys. We begin with the Hawk-like Birds of Prey. 
