PASSERINE BIRDS OF CEYLON. 155 



breeding season is from May to Deceniher. It frequently 

 places its nest among the bushy creepers growing on the walls 

 and verandahs of up-country bungalows, but it also builds in 

 forest trees or bushes. The nest is of the usual globular type. 

 The four or five eggs are slightly pointed ovals of pure white, 

 and measure about "61 by "45. 



Uroloncha malabarica. 



The White-throated Munia. 



Uroloncha malabarica (Oates, Vol. II., p. 188) ; Munia mala- 

 barica (Legge, p. 662). 



Description. — Upper plumage, wing coverts, and inner 

 quills pale earth -brown, darker on the crown ; primary quills 

 rather darker, the outer webs almost black ; upper tail 

 coverts white, the outer webs of the outside coverts black ; 

 tail blackish ; sides of head and all the lower parts pale buffy- 

 white, the lower flanks with a rusty tinge. 



Bill, upper mandible partly black, partly horn-colour, lower 

 mandible black ; iris brown ; legs and feet mauve or lilac. 



Length 4 • 75 ; Aving 2 ' 1 ; tail 2 ; tarsus • 55 ; bill from gape * 4. 



Distribution. — In Ceylon this Munia is found only in the 

 dry maritime districts of the north and south-east. It is, 

 however, widely distributed over the whole of India proper 

 and ranges into Afghanistan. 



Habits. — Found in dry sandy pastures round the lagoons 

 of the north and south-east coasts, in dry }3addy fields, &c. 

 It goes about in flocks frequently in company with the Finch 

 Lark P. grisea. It feeds entirely on the ground, mainly on 

 small grass seeds, but occasionally visits fields of ripening 

 paddy. The breeding season is from December to March. 

 The nest is generally the usual globular mass of grass, with the 

 opening at one side, but at times it is only partially domed, 

 and in some cases the dome is altogether wanting. 



The average clutch is probably from four to six eggs, but 

 in India as many as fifteen have been found in one nest, 

 probably the product of several birds. They are rather 

 broad, glossless white ovals. Average size -62 by *45. 



