332 A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NEPAL. 



from Calcutta, Sikim and Oachar : Wing, 2'85 to 3"05 ; tail, 

 1-87 to 2-15 ; tarsus, 0-82 to 0*9 ; bill at front, 0-69 to 

 0*77. Of the smaller form, Jerdon's haya, he gives the measure- 

 ments :— Wing, 3-6 to 275 ; tail, 1-7 to 1-8 ; tarsus, C-79 to 0-9 ; 

 bill at front, 0*65 to 0-69. Mr. Hume (S. F., VL, pp. 398-401) 

 has fully discussed the differences between the two forms, and 

 shown thatBlyth's name oihaya must apply to the larger species. 

 My birds are all clearly referable to the large species, and 

 although the adult breeding males have much more yellow on the 

 breast than in any specimen seen by Mr. Alandelli or Mr. 

 Hume from Sikim, still they have much less yellow on the back 

 and breast than in the Continental species. 



The Weaver Bird is common in the Nepal Valley from the 

 middle of April to the end of September. It is always 

 social, and frequents rice fields, gardens, and the vicinity of ham- 

 lets. It is found all over the central part of the valley, especially 

 about large solitary trees — pipals and palms — but does not ascend 

 the hills. It always breeds in company, the nests being attached 

 to palm trees, solitary pipals, but more especially to the fronds 

 of the fan palm of the valley, Choemero'ps martiana. It lays from 

 May to July. 



698.— Amadina rubronigra, Hodgs. 



Twelve specimens, Valley. — Length, 4*4 to 4*65 ; expanse, 7" I 

 to 7-5 ; wing, %\ to %'%; tail, 1-5 to 1*6; bill from gape, 0-4 to 

 0*45 ; bill at front, 0-48 to 0'5 ; closed wings short of tail, 095 to 

 1-1. 



Bill leaden blue; irides dark brown; feet dark plumbeous. 



Young birds, obtained about the middle of September, are 

 uniform earthy, with, in some specimens, a small spot or two of 

 chestnut appearing on the breast. The adults of this species 

 have the bills stronger and deeper than in punctulata. The young 

 birds above mentioned have the bill about the same size as in 

 punctulata, adult. 



This Munia is common in the central part of the Nepal Valley 

 from the end of May to October, frequenting rice fields and 

 gardens. A nest taken on the 13th July in the Residency 

 grounds was placed in a thorny hedge ; it was a large globular 

 structure with a trumpet-shaped entrance at one side; it contain- 

 ed five white eggs, slightly set. 



699.— Amadina punctulata, Lm. 



Twelve speci,toens, Valley. — Length, 4*3 to 4'9 ; expanse, 6"7 to 

 7-0 ; wing, 2-1 to 2'25 ; tail, 1'5 to 1-75 ; bill from gape, 0-4 to 

 0-45 ; bill at front, 0-43 to 5 ; closed wings short of tail, 

 1 to 1-3. 



