AMADFNA. 345 



. Peninsular India. Abundant on the Malabar Coast, sparingly 

 in other parts of India, in the Northern Circars, Lower Bengal, Arrakan, and 

 Ceylon. In the Andamans and Nicobars it is replaced by A. fumigata, Wald., 

 and A. semistriata, Hume. Its habits do not differ from those -of the preced- 

 ing species. Breeds throughout the peninsula of India, the eastern portions 

 of the Central Provinces, Orissa, Lower and Eastern Bengal, and Arrakan. 

 The breeding season, according to Hume, varies according to locality. In 

 the Neilgherries, he says, they appear to lay in July and August. In Yercaud 

 a nest was taken in the last week of September. The eggs are regular, 

 somewhat elongated ovals, pure white, and perfectly devoid of gloss. They, 

 vary in length from o'5$ to 0^65 inch, and in breadth from 0*42 lo o'47. 



885. Amadina malabarica (Linn.), Jard. andSelby, III. Orn. 2nd 

 Ser. pi. 34; Reich., Sing* t. 150 ; Jerd. t B. Jnd. ii. p. 3.5.7, No. 703; Murray* 

 Ildbk., Zool. r fyc+, Smd, p. 177; Murray, Vert. Zool. Sind, p. 182. The 

 PLAIN BROWN MUNIA. 



Head, back and scapulars pale earthy brown, the feathers of the head 

 centred darker, giving it a rufescent brown appearance ; rump pale earthy 

 brown ; upper tail coverts white, barred with dusky \ primaries, secondaries 

 and tertiaries dusky brown ; the secondaries and tertiaries rufescent brown on 

 their outer webs and tipped very slightly with whitish ;. wing coverts like the 

 back, the first three or four from the edge of the wing whitish : chin, throat, 

 breast, belly, and under tail coverts greyish white, the flanks and sides of the 

 breast in some specimens with transverse bars of rufescent ; under tail coverts 

 white ; tail dark brown, edged with dark reddish brown, the central feathers 

 broadly so, and prolonged 075 beyond the others. Bill plumbeous ; legs pale 

 brown ; irides deep brown. 



Length.^ inches ; tail 2 \ wing 2' I ;. bill at front 0-4. 



Hab. Sind, Punjab, N.-W. Provinces, Southern and Central India,. Malabar, 

 Deccan, Concan, Kutch, Kattiawar, Jodhpore, Jeypore, N. Guzerat, and 

 in fact nearly throughout India, but not extending to the countries towards the 

 east. Breeds everywhere it is found, but chiefly in the more arid tracts and 

 nearly throughout the year if the record of its nidification in different parts of 

 the country has been properly ascertained. They build in thorny bushes, 

 generally making a large globular nest made of fine grass and loosely put 

 together. The eggs are pure glossless white- 



Padda (Amadina) Oryzivora, the well-known Java sparrow, is naturalized 

 now in various parts of India. It is not however, in the proper sense, a native 

 of India, but the following characters will suffice for its identification. Cheeks 

 and ear coverts white ; chin, throat, a line bondering the ear coverts, the 

 forehead, and whole top of head black; above, also the neck, breast, and 

 upper abdomen bluish grey ; abdomen, sides, thighs and vent vinous ; under tail, 

 coverts white ; rump, upper tail coverts and tail black.. 



