1848.] On the Oology of India. 303 



33. Cypselus affinis. — " Babeela" or "Ababeel." Nest large, flat, 

 irregular, of fine straw, hay, and feathers, closely interwoven and kept 

 together with a glutinous substance supplied from the bird's salivary 

 glands, generally glued against some beam in a veranda or out-house, 

 in some remote corner. Eggs 3, shape lengthened, spotless, white. 



Male ffx^ J female ttX-A 1 - Jul J- 



34. Passer domesticus, var? i?idicus, Jardiue and Selby. — " Gooria" 

 or " Moonia." House Sparrow. Nest very large, about 8 inches in 

 diameter, irregular shape, made of any material at hand, generally straw 

 outside, finer grass and feathers within, with bits of cloth, cotton, tow, 

 paper, &c. ; in outhouses, under thatched eaves, loopholes in walls, down 

 wells, and (rarely) holes of trees. Eggs 5 to 8 or 9 ; f f X-f ordinary, pale 

 ash, thickly sprinkled with dirty rusty brown ; breeds in March, June 

 and October. 



35. Geronticus papillosus. — " Karankool." Black Curlew of sports- 

 men. Nest very large, flattish ; of branches, twigs, and hay, on large 

 limbs of the Seemul and such lofty trees. Eggs 2, ordinary, pure 

 opaque white. Male 2 T 3 F Xl T \; female 2 T Vxl T V July. 



36. Anastomus coromandelicus. — " Tont'h bhunga." Nest large, 

 flat, thick, of branches, twigs and grass within ; found in numbers 

 together on large limbs of lofty trees, chiefly the Seemul, together with 

 nests of Kites, Night-herons, Black Ibises, &c. Eggs 4 ; rather length- 

 ened ; dull white. Male 2 if* If ; female 2fyU J . July. 



37. Grus antigone. — " Surhuns," Syrus of Europeans. These eggs 

 have been frequently brought me in Singbhoom and also in Manbhoom, 

 where they are tolerably common, but I omitted taking the measure- 

 ments and describe the egg from memory ; (I have one in my collection, 

 to which I cannot at present refer.) Length about 3^ by 2J-, but 

 the male egg is longer than the female, colour plain white, not quite so 

 pure as in the domestic fowl ; without spot or mark of any kind ; general- 

 ly two in the nest, which is a raised heap of grass, rushes, &c. placed in 

 heavy grass jungle in retired places, generally at the foot of hills 

 covered with forest. July. 



I cannot understand the difference of colour between my specimens 

 and that of an egg presented to the Society, said to have been laid by 

 a Syrus, in Calcutta, and described by Mr. Blyth in a recent number of 

 the Journal. I can only say I describe the egg from upwards of a 



