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The Hen Pad da or Rice-Berd-* 
HPHI S Bird is altogether of the fame Magnitude and Shape with the lad de- 
fcribed, to which I fuppofe it to be the Hen. It is by the People who bring 
them from China, called the Padda Bird, becaufe they are fed with that Grain, 
Padda being the Name by which Rice is called, while the Grain continues in the 
Hulks; fo that I think the Rice Bird not a very improper Name. They are faid 
very much to annoy the Plantations of Rice; but tho’ I have given it this Name, 
yet I mud take notice thefe Birds are of that Tribe or Family of fmall Birds we in 
England call Finches, though their Bills are larger in proportion than any of that 
Genus we have with us. I not having Opportunity of feeing this Bird alive, the 
Defcription may be lefs' perfect than the other. It was preferved in Spirits at Sir 
Plans S/oane’s. 
The Bill is of a Fleffi-colour, it hath alfo the Eyelids or Skin round the Eye of 
a Fiefli-colour; the Head is wholly Black, wanting the white Spots in the Cheeks, 
which is the principal Difference between this and the lad defcribed Bird ; the 
Neck, Back, Bread, and Wings, are of an A£h-colour, not fo bright as in the former^, 
the Belly gradually changing into a faint dirtyiffi Bloffom-colour, the Quills fome- 
thing darker than the Covert-feathers of the Wings,; on the Ridge of the Wing 
next the Bread, is a white Spot; the lower Belly, and Coverts under the Tail, are 
White, the Tail is Black, the Legs and Feet of a Fleffi-colour; the Edges of the 
Feathers, as in the other, intermix fo equally, as to appear more like fine Hair 
than Feathers. 
Some People ufing the India Trade, who have feen thefe Birds, call them Java 
Sparrows, and others, Indian Sparrows, and affirm they are found in Java-, if fo, 
it is like they are found in mod of the Countries to which our India Company 
trade ; but I rather believe the Trade between China and Java, may have made them 
as Plenty as Cage-birds in Java, from -which fome may have fuppofed them Natives 
of that Country. I have obferved Figures of thefe Birds very frequently in Chinefe 
Pi&ures, which is a pretty convincing Argument they are Natives of China. 
The 
