FURREEDPORE, EASTERN BENGAL. 293 



have first noticed the Black-breasted Weaver Bird, and this 

 species, frequenting the grassy churs of the district. At the 

 beginning of July these birds commence to build their nests in 

 small colonies, on the long grass clumps and bushes wherever 

 these are standing in water. The nest is quite distinct from 

 that of P. baya for which it can never be mistaken. It is a 

 shorter thicker nest than that of baya, built of the same 

 materials and generally with only an apology of a tube. The 

 eggs are laid in July and August, and are from two to five in 

 each nest. 



696.— Ploceus bengalensis, Lin. 



\Sth June 1878. — Shot the pair and took the nest with one 

 fresh egg, all of which I sent to the Editor, S. F., for identifica- 

 tion. From the oviduct of the female another fully formed, but 

 soft, egg was taken. In front of my house was a small river, 

 which, at this time of the year, had several deep pools at intervals 

 along the bed. The public road ran parallel with the river, the 

 bank of which in one place was about 15 feet high and overlook- 

 ing one of these pools of water. This sloping bank was covered 

 with brushwood jungle about four feet high, and in one of the 

 bushes this nest was placed. Several twigs had been bent down 

 and incorporated with the roof of the nest, which had no linino-. 

 It was about three feet off the ground. The female flew off the 

 nest and was shot, and the male on coming back from feedino- 

 was also shot while sitting on the nest. I failed to find any 

 more of their nests ; the one found was the only nest in that 

 clump ; no P. baya ever was near the place. 



698. — *Munia rubronigra, Hodgs. 

 699. — *Munia punctulata, Lin. 



No where common, but during the rainy season a few pairs 

 of both species are seen about the hedgerows and cultivated 

 fields ; they breed here, as I have on several occasions seen their 

 nests in mangoe trees and bushes, in June to August; they 

 lay from five to seven eggs in each nest ; they go about iu 

 pairs, and are very fearless, entering even gardens. 



703.— Munia malabarica, Lin. 



ZUh April 1878, Male. — Length, 4*83 ; expanse, 6'58 ; wing, 

 2*10 ; tailfromvent, 1*92 ; tarsus, 0*56 ; bill from gape, 0*42 ; 

 at front, 0'39; closed wings fall short of end of tail, 1 "42 ; 

 weight 0*66 oz. Bill plumbeous ; legs livid carneous. 



Common, and a permanent resident ; goes about in small 

 parties of from five to fifteen in number ; frequents the same 



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