ESTRELDIN.E. 261 



They are very similar to those of P. philippensis, but are 

 square at the top instead of tapering to a point. 



The normal number of eggs, according to my experience, is 

 three, but four are often found ; they are exact counterparts of 

 those of philippensis, except that they are slightly smaller, 

 averaging 079 inches in length by about 0'58 in breadth. 



Ploceus bengalensis, Lin. 



696. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 349 ; Butler, Guzerat ; 

 Stray Feathers, Vol. V, p. 210 ; Murray's Vertebrate Zoology 

 of Sind, p. 181 ; Swinhoe and Barnes, Central India ; Ibis, 

 1885, p, 128. 



THE BLACK-THROATED WEAVER BIRD. 



Length, 5'5 ; expanse, 9'25 ; wing, 375 ; tail, 175. 



Bill pearly- white ; irides light brown ; legs dusky carneous. 



The male, in breeding plumage, has the crown brilliant golden- 

 yellow, with, in some instances, a slight inclination to flame 

 color ; back dusky brown ; rump dingy grey-brown ; wings and 

 tail dark brown, the former with very slight pale margins to 

 some of the feathers ; the throat white ; the cheeks, ear- 

 coverts, and sides of the neck, white, more or less suffused with 

 dusky on the ear-coverts and throat ; a broad, brownish -black 

 pectoral band ; the rest of the lower plumage sullied or fulvous- 

 white, brownish on the flanks. 



In some the pectoral band is broad and entire, in others 

 narrower, and divided along the middle. 



The female has the head streakless dusky-brown, the feathers 

 of the back edged with pale rufous-brown ; a pale-yellow 

 supercilium, and a spot of the same color behind the ear ; also 

 a narrow moustachial stripe ; throat white, yellowish in some, 

 and usually separated from the yellow moustache by a narrow 

 black line ; pectoral band less developed. 



Males after the autumn moult resemble the females, but the 

 breast and flanks are more rufescent ; the pectoral band is 

 frequently wanting, or rather concealed, by pale-fulvous deciduary 

 edgings. 



With the exception of the Deccan, the Black-throated Weaver 

 Bird occurs throughout the province, but is very locally distri- 

 buted. 



SUB-FAMILY, Estreldinse. 



Of small size ; bills large in many and bulged, more slender 

 in others; wings short, rounded; feet large; tail rounded or 

 cuneiform. 



GENUS, Amadina. (Munia.) 



Bill very thick and at the base as deep as long, compressed at 

 the tip ; culmen arched, flattened, prolonged backward to a point 

 of the forehead ; gape strongly angulated ; nares round, sunk and 



