AYES. 
91 
took out to the Island a carefully selected lot of English birds, com- 
prising twenty-six London sparrows, five green linnets, seven black- 
birds, and six thrushes. These were turned loose at Plantation House, 
but the sparrows immediately migrated to the houses and more in- 
habited parts near the town, where they soon increased in number. 
The other birds also were fairly established before I left the Island 
in 1871, and the song of the thrush was not uncommon in the 
country woods at early morn. Sparrows were introduced with the 
hope that they might assist in destroying the white ants, and that 
they may render some assistance in this matter seems very probable. 
It is with thanks that I have to acknowledge the assistance of 
Mr. E. L. Layard, and Mr. R. B. Sharpe, in identifying the following 
species : — 
Order Passeres. 
Fam. Fringillidce. 
Estrelda, Sw. 
E. astrild, Linn. — Averdevat. II ah. South Africa. One of the 
most abundant field-birds in the Islaiid, which may be seen in flights 
of a hundred or more at a time, especially in the neighbourhood of 
hay-fields as the grass-seed is ripening ; it is by no means a timid 
bird, but behaves much like the common English sparrow in 
frequenting the doors of country houses to pick up crumbs and the 
like. It builds in high trees, generally preferring the Scotch Al- 
and Botany-Bay willow (. Acacia longifolia), and consequently suffers 
much by high winds blowing the nests down; the nest is spherical 
in form, about seven inches in diameter, with an almost closed 
tubular entrance on one side, and is generally built of glass an 
feathers, lined with cotton and wool. 
Averdevats are caught in large numbers, and a small trade 
carried on with them between the natives and ships calling at the 
Island; they are sold at two or three shillings a dozen, according to 
the demand. . 
Padda, Reich. 
P. oryzivora, Linn.— Java Sparrow. Hah. Java. A tolerably 
abundant bird, inhabiting the low rocky lauds on the northern side 
clamator, and partridges, F. afer. In 1809 Mr. Andrew Anderson introduced Indian grey 
quail, and a year or two before that, Mr. George Moss took a number of larks to the 
Island and turned them out at The Briars. 
