of the Calcutta District. 51 



grass-jungle and feed on grass-seeds and grain. They remain 

 in the district all the year I'ound. 



40. MuNiA ATRicAPiLLA. (Chestnut-bellied Mania.) 

 Fairly plentiful, but much more abundant during the 



rainy season. Resident. Breeds in July and August ; in 

 one day I have foimd nests containing fresh eggs, others 

 containing half-grown young, and another nest from which 

 the young had flown. The nests are built either in long 

 grass — occasionally quite low down — or in trees and bushes, 

 and both birds are often in the nest together. 



41. Uroloncha malabarica. (White-throated Munia.) 

 Not common, found only in pairs during the breeding- 

 season, but much more plentiful and gregarious during the 

 rest of the year. On August 23, 1891, I found a pair 

 breeding in an empty Baya^s nest, amidst a breeding colony 

 of these birds in a solitary " tar " tree. 



42. Uroloncha punctulata. (Spotted Munia.) 



Quite the commonest species of Munia found in the 

 district, universally distributed and resident. It is a much 

 more familiar bird than the other Munias, and frequently 

 builds in compounds and close to houses, as well as in 'most 

 conspicuous positions near frequented thoroughfares. It 

 breeds in August, September, and October, building a large 

 untidy nest in some solitary bush or shrub, particularly in 

 babool trees. As many as seven eggs are often laid ; and if 

 the nest be robbed the birds will not forsake it, but will 

 soon lay another clutch of eggs in the same nest. 



43. Spor^ginthus amandava. (Red Waxbill.) 



The Red Waxbill, or Amadavat, is a rather locally distri- 

 buted species, remaining all the year round, but it is nowhere 

 abundant. It usually inhabits grass-jungle and open country, 

 and breeds in September and October, building its nest either 

 on the ground among grass or low down in a bush. On 

 October 18, 1891, I found a nest built on the ground among 

 rough grass in a field : it was domed, with an entrance at the 

 side, slightly made of grass and lined with downy blossoms 



