260 M. Sundevall on the Birds of Calcutta. 



the generic name Alauda. They differ however from the Larks 

 in the thickness of their beaks, the form of the tongue, their 

 unspotted plumage, and the decidedly short and curved hind- 

 toe. Here also belongs Fringilla otoleucos, Temm. PL Col. 269. 

 2, but not F. simplex and githaginea from Africa, which are 

 true Fringillce, Linn. (Pyrgitce, Cuv.). 



30. Fringilla domestica was found at Calcutta just as in Swe- 

 den. On two occasions I had an opportunity to observe spar- 

 rows at three to five yards' distance on board ship, and I saw 

 them also in the town, but not in the country, so that I had no 

 opportunity of shooting any. All the males (at least ten or 

 twelve), which I could observe accurately in the manner men- 

 tioned, had the head gray above and brown on the sides, as with 

 us. It is remarkable that the hot climate did not make the head 

 of the male brown, as in Italy, Spain and Egypt. Possibly I 

 did not see any old male. Fringilla montana was not seen. 



31. Fringilla bengalensis (non F. bengalus, auct.). — Loxia benga- 

 lensis, Briss., Linn., Lath. no. 36 ; Edw. 189 ; Buff. PI. Enl. 393. 2. 

 ( <$ fig. mala). Genus Ploceus, Cuv. 



Grisea, subtus rufescenti-albida, dorso fusco-maculato ; capite 

 superne flavo, lateribus pallide fusco. Rostrum altitudine duplo 

 longius. 



Paulo major quam F. domestica ; rostrum prsesertim majus. Ala 

 74 mill., tarsus 20. Remiges 10 ; l a spuria. Gula albida. 



^adulta, Mart., Apr., Maio, capillitio toto flavissimo. 



$ jun. (Aprili) fronte ad medium verticem flava. 



[ $ ? Apr. Ovario ? ictu leeso. Similis <^ juniori, sed colore paullo 

 sordidior.] 



In attitude and habit this bird resembles our common sparrow, 

 and, the yellow crown excepted, its colour is much the same. 

 The species was quite common about Calcutta after April, when 

 they began to build their nests ; before April they were not seen. 

 The nests are skilfully suspended under the enormous leaves of 

 the common palm-tree (Borassus flabelliformis) . The best are 

 of compact coarse hay, and have the appearance of a purse; 

 they are 13 or 14 inches long, 7 inches broad in the lower part, 

 growing smaller upwards to the breadth of 2 inches, and exter- 

 nally smooth ; but they are in great part solid, so that only the 

 lowest extremity has a small spherical cavity of 5 inches diame- 

 ter, with a pendent cylindrical entrance at the side. The nest 

 is built from above, so that the cavity is made the last. When 

 it is half-made, so that the bottom is wanting, a transverse wall 

 is made, and the structure has consequently two holes in the 

 lower part, one for the nest, the other for the entrance. These 

 are afterwards completed, each by themselves. The males were 

 supposed to be chiefly occupied in collecting materials, and this 



