294 FIRST LIST OF THE BIRDS OF 



places as the two last species. This species is often seen feeding 

 on the road like Passer. Builds a large globular nest, sometimes 

 high up in a Mangoe tree, and at others on low thorny bushes ; 

 they lay six and seven eggs during July and August. 



704.— *Estrilda amandava, Lin. 



On the 19th April 1878 I came across a small party of this 

 species, in which there were only four birds in the adult male 

 plumage, the rest (eight birds) being brownish. I shot one 

 and tried to carbolize it, but failed ; these birds were flying from 

 clump to clump of Sun grass that grew on the divisions of 

 some fields of rapeseed. I never again noticed the species. 



706. — Passer indicus, Jard. and Selb. 



Excessively common, and as great a nuisance as it is in 

 other parts of the country ; every village affords shelter to 

 scores of them. From February to June are the months 

 during which they breed. 



754— Mirafra assamica, McClelL 



2lst March, 1878, Nestling Male. — Length, 5*50 ; expanse, 

 7 e 50 ; wing, 2'16 ; tail from vent, 0*66 ; tarsus, 0*92 ; bill from 

 gape, 0*58 ; bill at front, 0'33; closed wings fall short of end of 

 tail, 037 ; weight, 0*5 oz. Irides brown ; legs fleshy ; bill 

 fleshy; tip dusky. Nestling which had evidently just left the 

 nest ; there were two, which I found trying to sneak away 

 through the doob grass on a chur, while I was out shooting 

 one day. 



23rd March 1878, Female. — Length, 6*50 ; expanse, 9*50 ; 

 wing, 2*92; tail from vent, 1*77; tarsus, 0'92; bill from 

 gape, 0*66 ; bill at front, 053 ; closed wings fall short of end 

 of tail, 1*16 ; weight, 1 oz. Legs fleshy brown ; irides hazel 

 brown ; bill, above horny, below whitish. Shot off nest with 

 eggs. 



Very common and a permanent resident ; found in open 

 plains and cultivated fields, and also on the public roads. I 

 have repeatedly found their eggs. On the 23rd March the 

 female above mentioned flew past me with a straw in her bill 

 and settled in the dry bed of a tank. On my going up to the 

 spot she flew off the nest and, was shot. The nest, the lower half 

 of which rested in a small hollow, was a domed structure 

 of " Sun" and lt Doob" grass roots with a lining of very fine 

 roots of those grasses ; there were also some lumps of matted 

 fur like that of the rat in the nest ; the entrance was at the side ; 

 there were two fresh eggs ; the whole thing was very artfully 



