258 Mr. E. L. Layard on the Ornithology of Ceylon. 



160. Amadina undulata. Lath. 

 161. Amadina Malabarica, Linn. 



162. Amadina Malacca, Linn. 



163. Amadina striata. Lath. 



164. Amadina RUBRONiGRA, Hodgs. 



165. Amadina pectoralis, Jerd. Tinna cooroovi, Mai., from 

 their devouring Tinna, a native millet. Wie-cooroola, Cing. ; 

 lit. Paddy Bird. These names apply to the whole group of 

 these birds. 



These little birds are found in great numbers and in various 

 localities. Pectoralis is confined to the hilly zone. Dr. Kelaart 

 found it at Nuwera Elia, and I procured it at Gillymalle. Rubro- 

 nigra Dr. Kelaart does not appear to have seen, and I only found 

 it about Galle. Malacca I only noticed at Jaffna and about the 

 peninsula. The rest are universally distributed. They all fre- 

 quent the fields of paddy and fine. grain, upon vvrhich they feed; 

 and they breed in trees or high bushes in the vicinity. M. undu- 

 lata breeds in companies, often forming thirty or forty nests in 

 one tree, and in some instances I have found one structure 

 containing several nests ; but single nests often consist of a mass 

 of straw and feathers larger than a man's head ; in the centre of 

 this is a small passage into the interior, which is thickly lined 

 with soft feathers. The eggs are from three to five in number, 

 and pure white. Axis 7 lines, diam. 6 lines barely. The eggs 

 of M. Malacca are — axis 6i lines, diam. 5 lines barely. 



The natives keep large numbers in cages and fatten them to 

 be used as medicine in pulmonary complaints ; they catch them 

 in horse-hair nooses. 



166. Passer Indicus, Jard, & Selby. Geh cooroola, Cing. ; lit. 

 House Bird, from building about houses. 



The Indian sparrow is certainly distinct from our European 

 bird, though its note is similar, and it lives about the habi- 

 tations of men j its eggs also run through as many varieties, 

 from an almost spotless white to the darkest mottled brown. 

 Their length is 9 lines, diam. 6 lines. 



The natives are much attached to this bird, and to attx'act it 

 to their dwellings hang on a peg in the verandah a chatty with 

 a hole broken in the bottom ; this is soon selected by a pair of 

 sparrows for their nesting place, and I have reason to know that 

 the same pair will return to the spot year after year, and rear 

 their callow nestlings undisturbed by the presence of the inmates 

 of the dwelling. 



