MUNIA GRANDIS, Sharpe. 
Large Rufous-and-black Finch. 
Munia grandis , Sharpe, Journ. Linn. Soc. (Zool.) vol. xvi. p. 319 (1882). 
This large species of Munia belong to the widely spread section of Rufous-and-black Finches, of which Munia 
rubronigra is the best-known representative. It would seem to be nearly allied to M. jagori of Cabanis, a 
Philippine species which has been once collected by Dr. Meyer in the island Halmahera or Gilolo. The 
present bird, however, would seem to differ by its larger size, and by having the whole of the black abdomen 
so completely joined to the black breast as to leave only a patch of rufous on the sides of the body. 
But a single specimen of this species was collected by Mr. Goldie in the Astrolabe Mountains. He procured 
it in the Taburi district, where it was called by the natives “ Quaita.” 
I give the following description from Mr. Bowdler Sharpe’s paper : — 
“ General colour above light bay, the rump and upper tail-coverts shining straw-yellow ; least and median 
coverts like the back; greater coverts darker and more chestnut ; primary-coverts and quills dusky brown, 
externally chestnut, the innermost secondaries entirely of the latter colour ; central tail-feathers straw-yellow, 
dark brown along the middle ; remainder of tail-feathers edged with straw-yellow ; entire head and neck 
all round jet-black, as well as the breast and entire under surface, with the exception of a patch of light 
chestnut on the sides of the breast and upper flanks ; under wing-coverts and axillaries light reddish, the 
lower series ashy rufous ; quills dusky brown below, ashy rufous along the edge of the inner web. Total 
length 4 inches, culmen 05, wing 2‘2, tail P55, tarsus 065.” 
The two figures in the Plate represent the male bird in different positions and of the natural size. They 
have been drawn from the typical specimen in the British Museum. 
[R. B. S.] 
