330 A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NEPAL. 



of Nepalj in winter. It was g-enerally seen in pairs, about fields, 

 roads and grassy plots, associated with Mainas and Starlings* 



684.— Acridotheres tristis, Lin, 



Three males, — Length, 103 to 10*6; expanse, 18 to 19; 

 wing, 5*8 to 5'9 ; tail, 3"5 to 38 ; tarsus^ 1"45 to 1"6; bill from 

 gape, 1-25 to 1-3; bill at front, 0-85. 



Four females. — Length, 9'7 to 10; expanse, 16"7 to 17'2 ; 

 wing, 5*3 to 5"65; tail, 3"1 to 3*5; tarsus, 1'45 to 1*5 ; bill 

 from gape, 1'2 to 1"23 ; bill at front, 0'76 to 0*8 ; closed wings 

 short of tail, 1*25 to 1"6. 



Bill yellow, bluish or greenish at base ; orbital skin bright 

 yellow ; feet lemon jj-ellow to dull pale orange. 



This species is excessively common in the Nepal Valley, the 

 Nawakot district, the Chitlang and Markhu Valleys, Be- 

 toura, Bichiakoh, and the Terai and plains of Nepal. In fact it 

 is abundant in every part of Nepal I have visited, from the 

 plains to an elevation of at least 6,000 feet, wherever human 

 habitations are to be found, and where thick forest does not 

 prevail. In the Great Valley it is a permanent resident, and 

 together with Corvus splendens and Passer montanus (rather 

 an unusual alliance as far as the latter species is concerned) 

 first attracts the attention of a visitor interested in birds. 



686.— Acridotheres fuscus, Wagl. 



Four males. — Length, 9*4 to 9*8; expanse, 15'2 to 15'8 ; 

 wing, 4*9 to 5*0; tail, 3'1 to 3*6; tarsus, 1*35 to 1*5; bill from 

 gape, 1-15 to 1-2 ; bill at front, 07 to 0-8. 



Three females. — Length, 9 to 9*2; expanse, 14'25 to ]5"4 ; wing, 

 4-8 to 4-85 ; tail, 3-0 to 32 ; tarsus, 1-3 to 1-4 ; bill from gape, 

 1'15 to 1*17; bill at front, 0*7 to 0*73; closed wings short 

 of tail, 1'5 to 1'7. 



Bill orange, black at base ; irides bright yellow ; feet orange or 

 orange yellow. 



This species is common and a permanent resident in the 

 valley of Nepal, but does not occur in such great numbers as 

 A. tristis. It is also found in tolerable abundance in the 

 Nawakot district and the Hetoura Dun in winter. It breeds in 

 the valley in May and June, laying in holes, in trees or walls ; 

 the eggs are very like those of A. tristis, but smaller — not so 

 broad. I noticed on two or three occasions an Albino of this 

 species, which was greatly persecuted by the crows. 



688.— Temenuchus malabaricus, Gm, 



Five males. — Length, 7*5 to 7"8 ; expanse, 11-9 to 12*6; 

 wing, 3-7 to 4; tail, 2'35 to 2*7 ; tarsus, 0-9 to 095 ; bill from 



