The Spice Finch 
M. siibiuidulata is very similar to puuctulata and has 
undoubtedly been often imported as the latter. Habitat.— - 
" From Cachar to Manipur, Bnrmah and Tenasserim, eastward 
to Cochin China." (B.M.C.). 
.1/. cahaiiisi is a Philijjpine form, of which I do not re- 
member to have seen a living specimen, nor any record of its 
importation. 
Wild Life : So many travellers, naturalists and orni- 
thologists have studied these common and widely distributed 
birds that our knowledge of their life history in their native 
wilds is fairly complete. From the records of Jerdon. Oates, 
Hume, Forbes and others I have compiled the following notes : 
They abound almost everywhere in India and Ceylon, 
favouring grassy, bushy tracts, the vicinity of villages and the 
villages themselves, as well as gardens and similar cultivated 
areas. Nests are not unconunon amid the creepers of \eran- 
dahs. They feed on small grain, seeds, and undoubtedly insects. 
The nest is mostly placed in a thorny bush and at a lov.' 
elevation, mostly 5 to 7 feet above the ground. Sometimes it 
is placed in a hole in a roof thatch, etc., but the former practice 
is the more conuuon. The nest is a flattened sphere in form 
with an entrance hole at the front. It is a huge, and usually 
untidy, construction — walls average about one inch in thick- 
ness. It is constructed of green grass and leaves externallv. 
and lined internally with fine dry grass and rootlets. 
The eggs are white, and seven form the usual (normal 
clutch. 
The nesting season, covering the whole of India, lasts 
from February to October. 
Ix THE Aviary : Not a free breeder, and it was known 
to English aviculture for very many years before a record was 
claimed for its successful breeding. It is not easy to account 
for this, but the fact remains that even right up to date very few- 
Spice Finches have been bred in captivity, yet quite a number 
of hybrids have been successfully reared, by cross mating of 
odd birds with other mannikins. Mr. Gill's was the first re- 
corded success with this species, and several other avicukurists 
have since met with success. In my own aviary, about five years 
ago, a nest was constructed in a large dense privet bush, 'rom 
