298 
Bonk Nof/rr-s and Tteviews. 
C. Olassiflcation Accoi-ding to Culour- 
1, Black; 2, Blue, 3, Brown; 4, Coffee or Fawn Colour; 5, Green ; (j, Grey 
7, Pink ; 8, Red ; 9, White, 10, Yellow; 11, Birds of Many Colours. 
D. Classification According to Habits— 
1, Birds having remarkable cries ; 2, Birds whose nests are likely to bo found 
in .my garden in the jilains ; 3, Birds that habitually sit on exposed perchest 
i, Birds tliat go aliout in flocks ; 5, Plight ; fi, Feeding habits ; 7, Birds which 
habitually carry the tail almost verlieally. 
PART II.— Descriptive List of the Common Birds of the Plain.s of India. 
It will thus be seen that Part I. consists of a succession 
of keys, each very comprehensive and practical. — I can best Illus- 
trate this by quoting- the sub-divisions of one of the keys under 
classification according to colour. 
I.— Black, (la' All Black, (lb) Mainly Black, (2) Black-headed Bird.s, (3) Black collaret or gorget 
or band across the breast, -la Black and blue ."Sb Black and brown (chest- 
nnti,,5c bl.ack and coffee or fawn colour, 5e Black and pink, .5f Black and red, 
.5g Black and white, 5h Black and 5'ellow 
All the other keys are equally comprehensive and should 
prove a boon to those not having access to such works as the " Fauna 
of India," etc., and equally as to the possessors of these works, as a 
less cumbersome and more convenient means of reference for field 
work, or in aviary. 
Part II. The Description List (231 species) equally com- 
mends itself to the reader by reason of its conciseness and utility. 
To illustrate this T will quote two of the descriptions of -well known 
species:— ** 
" 78. Spnrcrginthus formosa: The Green Munia, or Green Waxbill. 
This beautiful little bird, which is barely two-thii-ds the size of 
the sparrow, is frequently caged. The upper plumage and wings 
are light .green, brighter in the ('0(^k than in the hen ; the tail 
is black, the k)wer parts are yellow, brigliter in the cock 
thar in the hen. Bill bright red. 
"79. Sporcrginllms amavdavn : The Indian lied Munia, or Red 
Waxbill, or Lai, or Amadavat. 
Everj'' aviary in India boasts one or two amadavats. This is 
a tiny little bird with a bright red lieak and red eyes. The 
general hue of the ]ilumage is reddish brown witli patches of 
the richest crimson and .some tiny white spots. There is more 
crimson in the cock (ban in the hen, and in the former in the 
l)reeding season than at any other time of the year. But in 
both sexes there is always a patch of crimson on tlie lower 
nmip. In full dress the cock has the whole head, upper plumage, 
breast, and sides of the body crimson. As, however, the wing 
feathers are brown, the little birds look brown and not crimson 
during flight. In order to perceive the crimson tlu^y must be 
watched when at rest in the sunlight. 
They are lightly gregarious and ai'e found all over India. 
In Burma this bird is replaced by an allied one (F^. flavldircvlria), 
having the abdomen yellowish red instead of black. (Illus. G. B., 
frontispiece.) 
