NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 11 



They are permanent residents, breeding from the commencement 

 to the end of the rains. 



The nests differ greatly, some of them are placed between two 

 or more leaves, sewn carefully together, tailor-bird like, but as a 

 rule not so neatly, a good deal of line grass being used in addition to 

 the cotton. Occasionally the nest is placed in a tuft of grass, and 

 is then composed of tightly woven grass, and is dome-shaped, having 

 the aperture near the top. Others are composed of vegetable down 

 affixed to leafy twigs, much in the same way as those of the Yellow- 

 bellied Wren Warbler (Prima fiaviventris). 



The eggs, four or five' in number, are oval in shape, and are of a 

 brilliantly glossy-brick or mahogany-red colour, darker as a rule at 

 one end, where it forms an indistinct cloudy cap. 



They average about 064 inches in length by 0*47 in breadth. 



535.— STEWART'S WREN WARBLER. 



Prima stcwarti, Blyth. 



The eggs of Stewart's Wren Warbler average 0'62 inches in 

 length by about - 46 in breadth, or rather smaller than those of the 

 Ashy Wren Warbler ; in all other respects they are identical. 



538.— THE MALABAR WREN WARBLER. 

 Prima hodgspni, Blyth. 



It is now admitted by most ornithologists, that the Malabar and 

 Franklin's Wren Warblers (Prinia gracilis) are one and the same 

 species, hodgsoni being nothing more than gracilis in breeding 

 plumage. 



The Malabar Wren Warbler is more or less common in suitable 

 places in Western India, with the exception of Sind and perhaps 

 Cutch, where it is not known to occur. 



Mr. Davidson, who has had excellent opportunities of observing 

 this bird, says in epis : " As far as I know I have never seen this 

 bird in Sholapur, Satara, Poona or Kanara, while it is common in 

 Khandeish and found in Nassick ; I therefore suspect it is a Northern 

 form in the peninsula." 



They are permanent residents, breeding during the rainy season, 

 making a somewhat similar nest to that of the Tailor Bird, but 

 much smaller it is composed of very fine grass, placed between two 



