172 Capt. Beavau on various Indian Birds. 



ing in small parties on the flowers of the " Semul " or cotton- 

 tree [Bomhax heptaphjllum) . 



Perulia, Maunbhoom, April 1864. Enormous flocks of these 

 birds may be seen every evening flying to the islands in the 

 lake here, where they roost in trees, together with Acridotheres 

 tristis and Sturnopastor contra, Herons and Cormorants; but 

 the flocks of P. roseus are by far the largest, and, when they 

 rise suddenly from the trees on hearing the report of a gun, 

 create a rushing sound, and appear like a vast animated cloud. 

 They fly, too, much faster than the allied species, and may be 

 easily distinguished from the latter by their arrowy flight, which 

 is very similar to that of the common English Starling, They 

 have only lately been noticed here, and, as the breeding-season 

 of most birds is already far advanced, can scarcely have time, 

 one would think, to get to Western Asia, as supposed by Dr. 

 Jerdon, for the purpose of nidification. 



693. EuLABEs RELiGiosA. Southern Hill-Myna. 



Caged specimens of this bird are fi'equently seen in Maun- 

 bhoom, which are said to be captured in the hilly country to 

 the south of the district. Col. Tickell does not, however, in- 

 clude it in his list of the birds of Borabhoom and Dhulbhoom 

 (J.A. S. B. ii. p. 569). 



694. Ploceus baya. Common Weaverbird. 



Common in Maunbhoom, near Calcutta, Burmah, and near 

 Umballah, as far as my experience goes. At Moulmein it asso- 

 ciates with Sparrows, about stables and out- buildings. 



699. MuNiA UNDULATA. Spotted Munia. 

 Observed at Barrackpore in 1864, in Maunbhoom 1855, and 

 Burmah 1865 [cf. P. Z. S. 1866, p. 552). 



701 . Munia striata. White-backed Munia. 

 At Bamnuggur, Maunbhoom, March 13, 1864, I fired into a 

 flock of these birds feeding on chafl" in a village, killing four. 

 The followinsr are the dimensions of two of them : — 



