MUNIA PUNCTULATA. 
657 
A closely allied race exists in M . ^unctiilana from Malacca and the Malayan archipelago, which merely differs in 
having the upper tail-coverts greyish brown, the longer feathers being tinged with obseui-e yellowish ; and the 
tail dicker bromi, with the central feathers tinged with greyish. It is slightly shorter in the wing — specimens 
from Bali, Timor, Makassar, and Malacca varying from 2-0 to 2'1 inches ; the lunulations of the under surface 
ave a reddish tinge as distinguished from the almost pure black in the generality of specimens of M. punctulaia. 
u example from Kepal and another from Behar have the under-surface markings on the breast quite rufous. 
Distribution. The Spotted “ Finch is the most numerous of the family of Munias inhabiting Ceylon. 
It is abundant both in the north and south of the island and on the east and west coasts, frequenting the 
sea-board as much as the interior. In the Kandyan country it is common up to elevations of 2500 feet in 
open localities and m Uva, where patna-land is so widespread, it is found nearly up to 4000 feet. I have 
met with It at this altitude in the Badulla and Madulsima districts, and I doubt not that it possibly ranges 
sti iig er etween tlm former place and Hakgala, in which neighbourhood not a few low-countiy birds are 
found during the N.E. monsoon. In the west and south of the island it far outnumbers its congeners 
wherever the country is open or cultivated, but is not so plentiful in jungle.districts as the next species. 
t IS well known to the inhabitants of Colombo, who have frequent occasion of observing it in their 
afternoon drives round the ornamental » circular » in the cinnamon-gardens. 
In India it is very abundant, inhabiting the peninsula throughout in suitable localities, and ranging 
more towards the east of the continental portion of the empire than the west. Jerdon says that it is rare in the 
ex reme south; and I notice that Dr. Fairbank only observed it twice in thin jungle on the lower Palani 
They are migratory to the Nilghiris, appearing there, according to Miss Cockburn, from June till 
October. It is singular that this species should be so common in Ceylon when it is not abundant on the 
adjoining mainland. Mr. Hume, generalizing, says that it only breeds, as a rule, in well-wooded and well- 
watered tracts ; but, notwithstanding, Jerdon affirms that it does not occur on the Malabar coast, although he 
found it in various parts of the Carnatic and Central India. In the Ahmednugur district it is rare according 
to Dr. Fairbank, but in parts of the Deccan it is common and breeds {Davidson and Wender ) . From the 
extended eastern region lying betw'een the Mahanadi and Ganges rivers Mr. Ball records it as occurring on the 
Rajmehal hills, and in the Manbhum, Lowardugga, and Singhbhum districts of Chota Nagpur ; also in 
Sambalpur, Raipur, and the Godaveri valley. Mr. Cripps states that in Furreedpore, Eastern Bengal, it is 
nowhere common; but during the rainy season a few pairs are seen about hedgerows and cultivated fields, and 
they breed in the district from June to August. Further to the north-east it beeomes scarce. Captain Beavan 
observed it at Barraekpore ; but beyond this I cannot find any certain evidence of the existence of true 
punctulata Mr. Inglis did not meet with it in North-eastern Cachar, and beyond this another allied species 
exists m the A£. subundulata of Godwin-Austen. Mr. Hume, in commenting on Mr. Oateses notes on this 
species m Pegu, which was said by lum to be by far the commonest Munia there, says that the specimens 
were destroyed; and we have not since been informed whether the species inliabiting that province reallv is 
the same as the continental Indian bird or identical with the Tenasserim allied race, M. superstriata, Hume. 
Returning towards the w^cst w'e find that at Mount Aboo it is, according to Captain Butler, eommon asso- 
ciating in large flocks in the hot weather and breeding in September ; but Mr. Hume adds that it occurs in 
no other part of the whole region (Sindh, Cutch, Kattiawar, and Jodhpoor), although Mr. Adam saw it once 
ill the rainy season at the Sambhur Lake. 
From Lower Bengal it extends to the sub-Himalayan district, and appears to be found throughout it from 
uarjiling to the North-west Himalayas, whence there are specimens in the British Museum. 
Habits. This sociable little Munia chiefly frequents open land, grass- and pasture-fields, gardens and 
coinpoun s aroun native villages, paddy-fields, and patna-hills in the Central Province. It consorts in large 
oc s an IS a most entirely terrestrial in its habits, feeding in close contact on the ground, and tripiiino- 
nim y a ou among t e grass. It is very destructive to the paddy, alighting on the stalk and picking out 
the grain, m spite of the shouts of watch-boys, the outstretched arms of the many uncouth scarecrows and 
loud knockings of the ingenious bamboo “ clappers,” devised by the natives for the protection of their crons 
It is at all times veiy tame, showing no fear of man, and when raised from the ground by his approach flies 
for a short distance and settles down again. Its ordinary note is a plaintive whistle, and this is often 
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