Notes on the Birds nf the Samhlmr Lalce ^' its vicinity. 387 



The flocks come from the westward about the beginning of 

 August. In 1872 I have rioted the earliest observed on the 1st 

 August ; they stay with us till about the beginuing of the hot 

 weather, when the flocks may be seen travelling from the east 

 to the west. I have also noted flocks returning as early as the 

 21st July. 



694. — Ploceus baya, Blyth. 



The weaver bird is very common about this. It breeds dur- 

 ing August, and, as a rule, prefers to hang its nest on the branehi 

 of a willow or keekur tree about the open wells, but I have 

 often found groups of nests on solitary keekur trees in the open 

 plains, far removed from water. The quantity of mud on the 

 sides of the nest above the ^^^ chamber varies much. 



699.— Lonchura punctulata, L. (Mimia imdulata, 

 apud Jerdon.) 



I have only once seen the spotted munia here, and that 

 was during the rains. I have not obtained a specimen. 



703.^ — Munia malabarica, L. 



The plain brown munia is very common here. It builds 

 during March, April, and May. 



This bird seems to build anywhere, and I have taken its nests 

 in old walls, about houses, and in various trees. One nest I have 

 noted had six e^gs : it was built in a babool tree about 20 feet 

 from the ground, and just above it was a nest of a shrike, 

 C. lahtora. The nest was not of the beautiful Florence-flask 

 shape, which is so common in the North- Western Provinces. 



It was round and coarsely built of fine grass loosely worked 

 together. The lining consisted of pieces of cotton, scraps of 

 cotton cloth, and a few feathers. 



706. — Passer indicus, Jar dine mid Selby. 



Very common. It is with great difficulty that I can keep 

 the sparrows from building inside my house, and were it not 

 for a fine long blow-pipe which I possess, the thatch in my 

 verandah would be utterly destroyed by them. They know 

 the shape of the blow-pipe as well as any old crow knows the 

 shape of a gun. 



707 — Passer salicicola, Vieill. 



I found this sparrow very plentiful in the keggera jungles 

 near to the town of Koochamun during the cold season. 



