43. 
MUNIA KELAARTI 
(THE HILL MUNIA) 
ADULT MALE AND FEMALE 
Length 4.65 to 4.8 inches; wing 2.1 to 2.25; tail 1.6 to 1.8; tarsus .5 
to-. 6; middle toe and claw .75; bill at front .5, to gape .45 to .48. 
DISTRIBUTION 
This handsome little finch, the only species of the family peculiar to 
the island, was discovered by Dr Kelaart at Newera Ellia, where it is very 
common, and by him specimens were forwarded to Mr Blyth. It is essentially 
an Alpine bird, not being found below an altitude of about 2000 feet, and is 
not very numerous at that height. Its principal habitat is the Newera El¬ 
lia plateau and the Western'oof fee districts extending from the Peak forests 
(in the clearings of which it is common) through Maskeliya, Dikoya, Dimoula, 
and Pus e law a, to parts of the Kandy district, and thence to the Knuckles, in 
the upper parts of,which it is found, but not, according to my observation, 
as commonly as on the South side of the Dumbara valley. 
In Uva, about Badull a, and in Kadulslma I found it less numerous than Mu - 
nla Malacca, which is the common patina finch of that part. In Maturatta 
and Hewahettee it is tolerably frequent, but not more so than M.Striata. 
In the Southern ranges (the Rakwana, Morowak, and Kukkul Korale district 
it is found above the altitudes mentioned. I observed that it was numerous 
in the hill fields and small clearings about the 'hamlets on the wilderness 
of the Peak. 
HABITS 
The hill Munia, in its habits, differs considerably from all the other 
species. It is frequently found in the interior of the gloomiest forests; 
it is unsociable, living .for the most part in pairs, or in very small parties 
of three or four, except at night, when it comes together in flocks to roost; 
it is likewise a bird of more rapid flight than other Munias, nature having 
afforded It the power of spanning the deep ravines and gorges among which it 
passes its life, with ease and rapidity. It darts swiftly across open cof¬ 
fee estates and patinas from one piece of jungle to another with an undula¬ 
ting flight, uttering a long drawn sibilant note, which is audible from some 
distance, and Is often heard without the swiftly flying little finhn being 
itself perceived. 
It feeds on small seeds, frequenting the tall patina grass when it is in 
