556 Mr. W. Jesse on the 



commenced building their nests in a large jungle of sar- 

 patta grass, which was then surrounded by, and standing in, 

 water, the overflow of the river. Soon afterwards the river 

 fell, leaving the jungle high and dry, and nesting operations 

 immediately ceased. In only two nests did I afterwards 

 find eggs — three in each ; the average measurement of the 

 six being 'Sl^'x "59" — the largest measuring '84" x •Gl" and 

 the smallest -l^'x-oQ"." 



Coming down the Oudh and Rahilkund Railway, near 

 Bareilly on the Lueknow side, I once saw a number of 

 nests, presumably of this species, in the long patowal or 

 sarpatta grass. 



No. 726. MuNiA ATRicAPiLLA. Chestniit-belHed Munia. 



Nakal-nor [H.] . 



Not common, though Reid recorded it as being a permanent 

 resident. The bird-catchers always have a good number of 

 examples, though whether they are all caught in Lueknow I 

 rather doubt. Like other Munias, it is chiefly to be seen in 

 the long sarpatta grass, feeding on the seeds. 



No. 734. Uroloncha malabarica. White-throated Munia. 



Chiruka [H. and Anglo-Indian boys]. 



The Chiruka is very common and a permanent res ident, 

 being found everywhere. It makes a rather untidy globular 

 nest of grass and a few feathers, having a hole at the side. 

 The eggs are white, five to seven in number ; but, where two 

 hens, or more, join forces (as not infrequently happens), quite 

 a collection may be found. The nests are usually in thorny 

 bushes or quick-set hedges, but on two or three occasions I 

 have found them underneath those of Aquila vindhiana. 

 On one occasion the Eagle was sitting on two eggs, and not 

 three inches below her was a Chiruka on three. 



Average of 23 Lueknow eggs -59" x ■46" 



Measurement of largest q^^ -03" x "48" 



„ smallest e^^ "ST" x "44" 



No. 735. Uroloncha punctulata. Spotted Munia. 



Seena-baz, Sing-baz [H.]. 



Not nearly so common as U. malabarica, but still fairlv 



