Not found so far east as Calcutta. In the Punjab it is a summer visitor, whither it repairs for breeding purposes.
[82]. Passer domesticus: The Common Sparrow or House Sparrow. (F. 776), (J. 706), (I.)
Description of this familiar and ubiquitous bird is quite superfluous. I give it merely for the sake of completeness.
Cock: Top of head and lower back ashy grey, throat black, cheeks and sides of neck pure white, streak over the eye and upper back chestnut, wings and tail brown, the former with a white bar; lower plumage dirty white.
Hen: A dull brown bird with dirty white under parts; reddish-white eyebrow and white wing bar.
The Buntings, 83-85
The yellow-hammer, with its song of “A little bit of bread and no che-e-e-ese,” has rendered the bunting clan familiar to every Englishman. Buntings are finch-like birds with conical bills, mostly rather larger than the sparrow.
Several species visit the plains of India in large numbers every cold weather and wax fat on the grain crops. They occur in large noisy flocks, making merry among the various cereal crops and taking refuge in trees when disturbed. The species most commonly seen are E. buchanani, E. melanocephala, and E. luteola.
[83]. Emberiza buchanani: The Grey-necked Bunting. (F. 795), (J. 716), (+I.)
There is nothing striking in the appearance of this bird. The upper plumage is ashy brown, the shaft of each feather being darker than the web, giving the bird a streaked appearance. The lower parts are reddish brown. There is some white in the tail visible only during flight. There is an inconspicuous white ring round the eye.