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22b Fureigii Finchcs in Captivity.
^ Gates (Hume's " Nests and Eggs, etc.") says : " The breeding season of the
White-backed iMiinia varies apparently ver}- much according to locality. In the
Nilghiris they appear to lay in July and August. From Yarkand (Central Asia) a
nest was sent me, taken on the 28th of September, containing six eggs. Near Raipur
(Central India) a nest was taken in January, and at Maunbhoom in April. A nest
secured by Mr. F. R. Blewitt in the neighbourhood of Raipur on the 2nd of January,
was a very large, loose, partially domed, oval shaped structure, composed interiorly of
very fine grass stems, exteriorly of coarser grass, largely intermingled with dr}-
bamboo leaves. Exteriorly the nest was about eight inches in height, and five inches
in diameter. The cavit}-, the aperture of ^^dlich was a little on one side and nearly at
the top, was nearly five inches deep and about three inches in diameter. The nest
was very loosely and coarsely put together. It v^as placed on a branch of a Karounda
[ Cariim carounda) bush, about five feet high, growing on the bank of a nullah."
J\lr. E. Aitken ^\-rites : " I once found a nest of this ]\Iunia in Bombay, about
twelve feet from the ground, I think, in a small tree. I took no note of it at the
time, ljut I recollect that they had two young ones flying about with them soon after.
Perhaps, however, some particulars of a pair that bred in a cage ma}- be useful. The
nest was a darkened compartment, which they filled with fine grass which I gave
them. I could not watch their operations too closely for fear of frightening them ;
but I took some notes. First, they laid an egg with a soft shell, and brokelt; so I
supplied them with chalk and old egg-shells, and they began again. This time I
thought the female laid three eggs ; but only two young ^vere forthcoming, and if she
had another egg they must have disposed of it themselves. I supplied them with
bread and yolk of egg, ^vitli which the male assiduously fed the female all the time of
incubation and for ten da3-s after the young were hatched. During these ten days I
only saw the female twice. After that they shared the duty of feeding their ofi-spring
between them."
Miss M. B. Cockburn tells us that "The White-backed Munia is not a resident
on the Nilghiris, but accompanies the Amaduvads and Spotted Munias in their
migrations, and is generally met with in their compan}', except in the breeding
season, when they are seen alone and in pairs. They are not numerous and are very
shy, never approaching any house. In this respect the)^ are quite unlike the Spotted
Munia, whose unceremoniousness endears him to us. The White-backed Muuia's
nest resembles that of the Spotted Munia, being a large accumulation of grass, with a
small opening at one side. Nothing warm is used as a lining. The nests are found
i " Jiily. ™d contain six or eight pure white eggs."
Mr. J. Darling, junr., remarks : " This bird breeds very commonly up in the
The Striated Finch. 227
Wynaad. Builds a nest of grass, put together in a ball shape, with a hole in the
side; it builds in all sorts of situations, but is especially fond of building in the
parasitic plants on ' gooseberry trees.' They lay from four to eight eggs. I have
found nests from April to June, and also in November and December."
Mr. Vidal, writing from S. Koukan, says : " Common everywhere in gardens and
jungles. I have found numbers of old nests used as roosting places, but have never
succeeded in getting any eggs.
In Ceylon, according to Colonel Legge, these Munias appear to be constantly
nesting.
I purchased two specimens of this species from a friend about the 3'ear 1892 ;
he had obtained them with others from a dealer, under the name of Sharp-tailed
Finches, and until I examined the skins of the two species side by side, I was
naturally under the impression that my birds were U. acuticauda. Consequently, when
I observed them side by side with the dark form of the Bengalee, and noticed that the
actions, character and song of the two birds were almost identical,* I had no doubt in
my own mind that one was derived from the other. But, when Mr. Abrahams gave
me his views as to the parentage of the Bengalee, I took the earliest opportunity of
discovering how the two allied species U. striata and U. aeuiicauda differed.
I think the briefest way to describe the distinction between the Striated and
Sharp-tailed Finches would be to say that the latter is decidedly smaller, browner and
varied with tawny ; it is in fact not half such a pretty bird as U. striata : it somewhat
approaches the Chestnut-breasted Finch and the Spice-birds in aspect.
My birds proved to be both males, and though they were more than willing to
pair with Bengalees, the latter, being already accommodated with husbands, did not
take kindly to their rather more boisterous allies, and I am afraid the only result of
the introduction of the latter into m}^ Bird-room was, to increase the number of
disputes and prevent the Bengalees from settling down quietly.
Dr. Russ says :—" Although this Ornamental-Finch is one of the most ordinary
it is nevertheless regarded with some favour, and therefore may be found in many
Bird-rooms. In disposition it is not so restless, agile and graceful as a Little Magpie
{Bronze mannikin) but nevertheless quite as unassuming and hard}', and in all respects
peaceable. It delivers its comical humming song, spreading its tail like a fan and
solemnly turning its head from side to side. The sexes are not differently coloured,
and the male can only be certainly identified by its humming. Some pairs breed
very readily in cages, but others do not at all. In the Bird-room they build a nest in
«The song of the Sharp-tailed I'incli i.s ralher diiTereut—" Tik-tik-tik-tik-tik-tik-Uk-ti k clioo-uck," nor does this
bird resemble any variet}^ of the lieugalee.
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