356 Mr. F. W. Styan on the Birds of 



138. Plectrophanes lapponicus (Linn.). 



(463.) On 28th March I met with a large flock of this 

 species on some open fields near Shanghai. They were very 

 wild, and I only shot one — a male in winter plumage. 



139. Padda oryzivora (Linn.) . 

 (496.) "Shanghai" (Swlnhoe). 



I am told small flocks pass through Shanghai every autumn. 



140. Munia acuticauda, Hodgs. 



(495.) Large parties frequent the bamhoo-copses round 

 Shanghai and the gardens of the settlement. A pair nested 

 in a garden in the heart of the settlement in September,, the 

 young being successfully reared in October. The nest was 

 placed in a thorn ^ about 10 feet above the ground, and was a 

 large globular construction of coarse grass and leaves, with 

 no lining to speak of. Eggs pearly white. 



The species is found on hill-ranges up to 2000 feet. 



141. Munia topela, Swinhoe. 



(494.) Obtained once in Kiangsi by David. 



I obtained a single specimen at Kiukiaug in May. 



Fam. Alaudid.e. 



142. Alauda arvensis, L. 

 Common between October and March. 



Many specimens are identical with European skins ; others 

 are referable to the race A. cantarella ; but in habits and 

 range they are inseparable. 



143. Alauda c(elivox, Swinhoe. 



This species arrives in large numbers early in March and 

 leaves again in October. The grassy plains swarm with 

 them. They are low-flying birds, rarely soaring to any great 

 height, and often singing on the ground. They will allow 

 one to approach within two or three yards, and then skim 

 along, with a slow hovering flight, a few feet above the 

 ground. 



