128 PLOCEIDA\ 



differing only from the one already described in being densely 

 lined with a species of fine green flowering grass, many of the 

 flowering stalks of which protruded round the entrance, the ex- 

 terior being composed of coarse broadish blades of dry reeds. They 

 were all built about the same height, near the top of the sugar- 

 cane about 7 feet from the ground, and, as a rule, where the 

 sugar-cane was highest and most dense. 



" On the 14th September, 1879, I explored fresh sugar-cane 

 fields and found several more nests, some building, some with fresh 

 eggs, and one with two young ones and three eggs about to hatch. 

 Some of them were quite low down, not more than 2 feet from 

 the ground, and in a few instances built in open situations where 

 the sugar-cane was short and thin. 



" On the 17th of the same month, I spent another morning in 

 sugar-cane fields, finding several more nests, some building, others 

 containing either fresh hard-set eggs or young ones. No nests 

 contained more than six eggs, and many only five, and as a rule 

 the nests were solitary. 



" 12th September, 1880. Numerous nests again this year in 

 every sugar-cane field about Belgaum, between the middle of 

 August and middle of September. Eggs six to seven in number. 



" 17th September, 1880. Many more nests, containing some 

 fresh, some hard-set eggs, and some young ones. No nests con- 

 tained more than six eggs, and many only five." 



Captain Horace Terry tells us that on the Pulney hills this 

 species is fairly common. " I found a new nest at Pittur in April, 

 but got no eggs." 



Colonel Legge writes that this species breeds in Ceylon from 

 May to August. 



The eggs of this species, which I owe to Messrs. Carter, Theo- 

 bald, Butler, and others, are of the usual Munia type dull, pure 

 white, somewhat elongated oval eggs ; there is nothing that I can 

 see to distinguish them from those of M. punctulata and M. mala- 

 barica, except perhaps that elongated varieties are more common 

 amongst them. 



In length the eggs vary from 0*6 to 0'72 inch, and in breadth 

 from 0-44 to 0'5 ; but the average is 0-64 by 0'47 *. 



* MUNIA ORYZIYORA (Linn.). The Java Sparrow. 

 Padda oryzivora (Linn.\ Hume, Rough Draft N. <$f E. no. 703 bis. 



This species, the well-known Java Sparrow, a native of that island, but now 

 naturalized in Mauritius, Ceylon, and other places, has naturalized itself also 

 in the neighbourhood of Mac 7 ras, whence I have had many specimens, killed 

 wild, as well as the eggs sent me by ray friend the late Captain Mitchell. He 

 " found a nest near Madras in August, containing five eggs. It was placed 

 like a Munia's, in a thorny bush, 7 or 8 feet from the ground. The nest was 

 globular and very large, chiefly composed of fine grass, but with a few broad- 

 bladed leaves of millet intertwined. The entrance small, circular, and lateral." 



The eggs were very regular ovals, pure, glossless white, and varied from 0'7 

 to O75 inch in length, and were (all the three he sent me) 0'55 in breadth. 



