Mr. E. L. Layard on the Ornithology of Ceylon. 257 



XXIV. — Notes on the Ornithology of Ceylon, collected during an 

 eight years' residence in the Island, By Edgar Leopold 

 Layard, F.Z.S., C.M.E.S. &c. 



[Continued from p. 218.] 



158. Ploceus Philippinus, Linn. Tokanam cooroovi, Mai. ; 

 lit. Basket-maker Bird. Tatteh cooroola, Cing. 



Scattered pretty generally throughout the island and migra- 

 tory. It breeds in June, fabricating hanging nests, which are 

 too well known to the readers of this periodical to need descrip- 

 tion. I should observe, however, that the male also has a nest 

 for himself which is similar to that used for breeding in, except 

 that it has no gallery, and the chamber that contains the eggs 

 in the one has no bottom in the other, so that the droppings of 

 the bird, which always sits with its head towards the opening 

 which replaces the gallery, fall through to the ground. Here the 

 male bird rests at night, or shelters himself by day from the sun 

 and wind, while he sings to his assiduous partner on the eggs. 



The natives all tell me that the male bird conveys fireflies to 

 its nest and sticks them to the side by means of mud for the 

 purpose of illuminating its dwellings. I cannot say that I ever 

 saw this substitute for candle, but I have never found the nest 

 of the male bird without observing a patch of mud on each side 

 of the perch on which the bird sits. It is clearly not placed 

 there to strengthen the structure; can it be for the purpose 

 of sharpening its bill ? and may not the husks of seeds, and 

 perhaps the wing-cases of a stray beetle left sticking upon it, have 

 given rise to the idea which the natives entertain ? 



The bird feeds on seeds of various kind, associates in flocks, 

 and builds in companies on palm and other trees or bushes in- 

 discriminately. The eggs are from two to four in number, and 

 pure white. Axis 8 lines, diam. 6 lines. 



Dr. Kelaart includes P. Bengalensis in his list, but I think he 

 has wrongly identified the species, the nidification of which is 

 80 peculiar that he would have noticed it. Can he have seen 



159. Ploceus Manyar, Horsf., 



which I found replacing P. Philippinus in the neighbourhood of 

 Tangalle ? If so, the species probably extends round to Trinco- 

 malie, and occupies the east of the island, while Philippinus takes 

 the west. 



I procured Manyar in April, devouring small seeds on the 

 ground, and keeping to the neighbourhood of low bushes in the 

 uncultivated districts. They congregated in small flocks. 



A7in, ^ Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 3. Vol. xiii. 17 



