FURREEDPORE, EASTERN BENGAL. 295 



concealed. I found another nest in an indigo field, which was 

 partially overhung by a tuft of grass, but which was only a 

 pad of grass roots and contained four fresh eggs. I shot the 

 female as she flew off. This was on the 22nd June — the breed- 

 ing time is from the beginning of March to the 15th July. 

 These birds are a favorite quarry of the Turumtee (F. chiquera) ? 



760.— Pyrrhulauda grisea, Scop. 



26th April 1878, Female. — Length, 4'89 ; expanse, 8*75; 

 wing, 2*93 ; tail from vent, 1*66 ; tarsus, 0*66 ; bill from gape, 

 0*48 ; at front, 0"42 ; closed wings fall short of end of tail, 

 0*58 ; weight, 0*62 oz. Legs fleshy ; irides dark brown ; bill 

 fleshy, tinged dusky. Shot off nest, with eggs. 



Pretty common. I have not noticed it from November to 

 February, and am of opinion that it leaves the district during 

 those months ; its habits, &c, are well described by Jerdon. I 

 once found its nest in the dry bed of the river that was in front 

 of my house; it was on the 26th April 1878; the nest was a 

 tiny cup-shaped affair of fine grass roots which were firmly 

 held together by damp sand, so much so that on taking it up it 

 appeared like a ball cut in two ; it contained two fresh eggs ; 

 there was not even a small tuft of grass anywhere near 

 where the nest was ; only some tamarisk shoots above and 

 shading it. The sand was the fine grey sand one finds in 

 such places. The ground was always damp where the nest 

 was, and this latter was so placed that I do not think the sun 

 could ever reach it. I fancy the sand had blown in amongst the 

 grass roots. I had the nest for a long time, but it gradually 

 dried and all the sand fell out of it. 



762.— Alaudula raytal, Blyth. 



Mth March 1878, Male.— Length, 5'66 ; expanse, 9-50 ; 

 wing, 3*25 ; tail from vent, 2*10 ; tarsus, 0'75 ; bill from 

 gape, 0*66 ; at front, 0'50 ; closed wings fall short of end of 

 tail, 0*66; weight, 0*62 oz. Bill, horny above, bluish white be- 

 neath ; legs fleshy ; irides brown. 



Common on the large sandy churs of all the big rivers ; how 

 the bird exists in summer on the bare white sand during the 

 heat of the day is a wonder. I found a nest on a chur on the 

 9th April. The rain water trickling over a low bank had formed 

 a small hollow, which was overhung by a ledge of earth ; in this 

 hollow was a nest composed of fine grasses with a few feathers 

 stuck about it ; the nest was a deep cup and measured externally 

 three inches in diameter, and two inches deep ; inside two inches 

 broad, and one inch deep ; there were two fresh eggs. I came back 



