Descriptive Inst of the Common Birds 
Hen: A greenish-brown sparrow-like bird 
with two conspicuous whitish bars on the 
wing. 
This bird is a winter visitor to the plains of 
Northern and Central India, and, to some 
extent, S. India. Natives call it the Tuti. It 
has a pleasing song, but is not a bird that 
obtrudes itself on the observer. Unless care- 
fully watched for it is apt to be overlooked. 
Jerdon writes of this species, “ It visits the 
plains during October, and leaves in April. 
In March many are taken in fine breeding 
livery. In the extreme south I have chiefly 
seen it in bamboo jungle, feeding on the seeds 
of bamboos on several occasions, and so much 
is this its habit that the Telegu name signifies 
‘Bamboo sparrow.’ In other parts of the 
country it frequents alike groves, gardens, and 
jungle, feeding on various seeds and grain ; 
also not infrequently on flower buds and young 
leaves.” 
Eha does not include this species in his 
Common Birds of Bombay. Cunningham says 
it is fairly common in the gardens of Calcutta 
during the winter months. Jesse states that 
it is fairly common at Lucknow. At Lahore 
I observed it only in March and April. 
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