272 LIST OF BIRDS IN MANIPUR, 



but beyond this I have no exact knowledge of its distribution 

 in Assam. 



[Common in rice fields and grassy swamps in the Dibru- 

 garh district. When not breeding they go about in small 

 parties. The nests are suspended from small bushes, reeds, 

 and grass stems, and always overhang water. — J . R. C] 



I doubt whether this species occurs in British Burmah. 

 I have never seen it from any part of that Province. I 

 know that long, long ago, before he had paid much attention to 

 birds, Blanford recorded it from Thayetmyo, but I am not 

 sure that at the time he distinguished between the winter 

 plumage of this species and P. manyar. 



698.— Amadina rubronigra, Sodgs. 



This species was common in the long grass about Chundra- 

 kong and Moirang Prem in the eastern portions of the basin, 

 but except about these places it was decidedly scarce, despite 

 the vast extent of rice stubbles which it so affects. 



It was common all about Sylhet and swarmed in the rice 

 stubbles near new Karimganj, and I noticed there that, of the 

 numbers I shot on the 25th of January, more than half were 

 young birds. The youngest, just able to fly, had the head 

 and nape a light sandy brown, and the rest of the upper 

 surface (except the tail) a light brownish rufescent sandy, 

 the whole lower surface a light fawny albescent, except three 

 feathers which are the cinnamon of the adult. Others that 

 are older have the head and nape a purer and darker brown, 

 and the rest of the upper parts darker, a dull rufescent brown. 

 Some have the lores already black, and almost all exhibit 

 one or two feathers on the lower surface, which prove the 

 species they belong to. 



In Cachar, too, I met with it in several places, and have 

 it from the extreme N.-E. Cachar and Northern Sylhet, 

 and from Shillong and other places in the Khasi hills and 

 from many places in the Dibrugarh district, but this is all I 

 know of its exact distribution in Assam. 



[Common in the Dibrugarh district in cultivated and grassy 

 country, in small flocks. They are permanent residents. — J, R. C] 



This species seems to occur more or less abundantly in 

 suitable localities all over British Burmah. 



6996is.— Amadina subundulata, G.-Aust. 



I first met with this species near Bishnoopoor on the 17th of 

 February. There were a flock of fully 200 feeding on a patch 



