274 FET BIRDS OF BENGAL 



Garry things with a high hand among 

 its own tribe. It is as quarrelsome as the 

 house-sparrow, and squabbles are very 

 frequent among its kind. That these 

 quarrels are not due to amatory reasons 

 is certain, because they occur even in 

 the non-breeding season. 



This timorous bird frequents groves, 

 jungles, and gardens. Davison writes, 

 *^I have never seen it feeding except 

 when there was a good deal of cover 

 close at hand to which it could easily 

 retreat when alarmed'*. In Southern In- 

 dia, its favourite resorts have been noticed 

 to be bamboo jungles, the seeds of which 

 are regarded by it as a delicacy. The 

 Telegu name of the bird, translated into 

 English, means "bamboo sparrow". It 

 loves to be in the vicinity of grain-fields, 

 where it feeds all through the day on 

 rice and other grains and seeds. Flower- 

 buds and tender leaves are also included 

 in its dietary. During its migrations in 

 Spring and Autumn, it has been known 



