334 A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NEPAL. 



Bill livid, light horny at tip ; gape yellow ; feet pale greyish 

 fleshy. 



The House Sparrow is common in the Nepal Valley 

 throughout the year, hut is strictly confined to the streets and 

 squares of the towns and villages. It is never seen even a 

 hundred yards away from such localities. This, of course, 

 is very common in the plains of Nepal. 



710.— Passer montanus, Lin. 



Seven specimens. — Length, 5'5 to 5'8 ; expanse, 8'8 to 9*2 ; 

 wing, 2-6 to 2-8 ; tail, 2-2 to 2*4 ; tarsus, 0-66 to 0-7 ; bill 

 from gape, 0-5 to 0*55 ; bill at front, 04 to 0'46 ; closed wings 

 short of tail, 1-48 to 1-6. 



Bill black ; irides brown ; feet buff fleshy ; claws brown horny. 



This is the Common Sparrow of the Nepal Valley, a permanent 

 resident all over the central level parts ; it is also common, in 

 winter, in the Chitlang and Markhu Valleys. In the great valley 

 its breeding season lasts from March to the end of July, and 

 it rears certainly two, and often three broods. I obtained nest- 

 lings on the 16th April, and eggs as late as the middle of July. 



723.— Euspiza aureola, Jrall. 



Three males, Valley, February. — Length, 5'9 to 6'05 j 

 expanse, 9'3 to 9'6 ; wing, 30 to 3"03j tail, 2'5 to 3'6 ; 

 tarsus, 0-8 ; bill from gape, 0*49 to 0*52 ; bill at front, 0-43 

 to 0'44 ; closed wings short of tail, 1"25 to 1'45. 



Two females, Valley, February. — Length, 5*5 and 5'6; expanse, 

 ^'Q; wing, 2-75 and 2-8 ; tail, 2-3 and 2-35 ; tarsus, 0'8; bill 

 from gape, 0*48 and 0*49 ; bill at front, 0*42 and 043 ; closed 

 wings short of tail, 1*3 and 135. 



Upper mandible dusky ; lower pinkish fleshy, livid at tip ; 

 irides brown ; feet fleshy brown ; claws dusky. 



Male above brownish, the feathers longitudinally streaked 

 with black, with patches of maroon, here and there, on the 

 head, mantle, and rump ; beneath a gorget of maroon across the 

 base of the throat, and the feathers of the flanks and crissum 

 centred with blackish ; the female has no gorget and no maroon 

 on the upper parts. 



This species is a winter visitant to the valley of Nepal. It 

 is always found in flocks, frequenting fields and grassy banks, 

 and perching on rows of small trees near hamlets. 



724— Melophus melanicterus, Gm. 



Two males. — Length, 65 and 6*65 ; expanse, 10*2 ; wing, 

 3*2 and 3*3 ; tail, 2*9 and 3*0 ; tarsus, 0*75 ; bill from gape, 0*6 ; 

 bill at front, 0*52 ; closed wings short of tail, 1*7 and 1'8. 



