Ces) 
ping whilst foraging. They build big globe shaped nests, compactly 
woven of flowering grass stems and thin straws. The Munia is well 
known in the plains, as a caged bird. It is slender in form and has 
dull sparrow-like plumage, though not so distinctly marked, as you 
must already know. 
(704) EstRELDA AMANDAVA, Red Waz-vill, or Red Munia as it 
is commonly called is a beautifully coloured bird. It is easily tamed 
and takes kindly to captivity. These qualifications together with its 
rich musical warble makes it a species in much demand in bird- 
markets in the plains, where they are frequently seen crowded to- 
gether in country-made bamboo and reed cages. In these cramped 
surroundings they appear to be bright and cheerful. Fit actively 
about, displaying their gay colours, whilst most of the cock birds 
pour forth quite a canary-like warble, though perhaps, not quite the 
same compass in trills and warbles. Near this district, they are 
found in flocks in their native element in Sub-Himalayan tracts, 
Assam and the Terai. 
Sup-Famity PASSERIN At (Sparrows) 
These birds must be more familiar, than even Munias and 
Amandavas. Bill is stout and strong, a little buldged at the sides, 
tip moderately compressed, ridge broad and convex; wings mode- 
rate in size, lst, 2nd and 3rd primary quills equal in length ; tail 
moderate, slightly forked. 
(710) Passer Montanus, Mountain Sparrow, differs but. little, 
in colour generally, from indicus for this reason it is often mistaken 
for the ubiquitous house-sparrow of the plains. In habits it differs 
not a little. This little mountain species is plentiful in Darjeeling, 
sometimes seen in small flocks, occasionally in solitary pairs, which 
will be more noticeable when observed in certain localities, where 
montanus has set up, more especially, its abode. When feeding or 
enjoying a dust bath by side of the road they usually collect in bigger 
numbers ; they are social and gregarious. They do not build or 
roost in colonies to so great an extent as do Indian House-Sparrows. 
In Darjeeling I have frequently seen them building under caves and 
ridges of corrugated iron roofs, where they enter by an aperture, 
hardly big enough to admit the hand, should it be found desirous 
of examining more closely the construction of the home. Nest, it- 
self is fully two or three feet away from the opening. J/ontanus is 
5 inches in size. Sexes are alike. Colour above, is rusty chestnut 
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