Abstract
Until the study of Guttinger (1970),
the Grey-headed Silverhill (Odontospiza
[ Lonchuraj caniceps) was one of the least
known of the mannikins (Lonchurae ). Between
January 1971 and March I972 I
kept two wild caught pairs of these estrildids,
as well as four males and two females
which were hatched and raised in my home
by Striated Finches ( Lonchura striata). I
made previously unreported observations
on the behavior of these individuals. Some
of these observations appear to be of taxonomic
importance. In describing displays,
the terms "inverted curtsey", "lateral
pivoting", and "leap-frogging" used
throughout this paper, are after Morris
(1957).
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