The Common Birds of the Nilgiris 



is very like the blackbird of England. The 

 plumage of the cock, however, is not so black, 

 and the legs, instead of being brown, are reddish. 

 Its charming song, with which all who have 

 visited Ootacamund are familiar, is almost 

 indistinguishable from that of its European 

 cousin. 



The Nilgiri thrush (Oreocincla nilgirensis) 

 resembles the European thrush in appearance. 

 Its upper plumage is pale brown, spotted with 

 black and buff; its throat and abdomen are 

 white with black drops. This bird has a fine 

 powerful song, but he who wishes to hear it 

 has usually to resort to one of the forests on 

 the plateau of the Nilgiris. 



THE PLOCEID.E OR WEAVER-BIRD FAMILY 



This family includes the weaver-birds, famous 

 for their wonderful hanging retort-shaped nests, 

 and the munias, of which the amadavat or lal 

 is familiar to every resident of India as a cage 

 bird. 



The weaver-birds do not ascend the hills, 



but several species of munia are found on the 



Nilgiris. Spotted munias (JJroloncha functu- 



lata) are abundant in the vicinity of both 

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