MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 221 



No. XV —OCCASIONAL NOTES ON NESTS AND EGGS FOUND 

 IN THE VICINITY OF BARODA. 



The Black-throated Weaver Bird (^Ploceus hengalensis). — I found these 

 birds breeding near Baroda in August and September of last year. As not 

 much appears to be known about its niditication, I venture to add what little 

 I know. I first noticed these birds in large flocks in the early part of the 

 monsoon : they were then frequentins: large open grass birs on which the 

 grass had not as yet grown to any height. On the 22nd August in company 

 with Professor Littledale and Captain Cox I went out to Ajwa, a large lake 

 some 14 miles distant from Baroda, hoping to get water-birds' eggs. In this 

 we were rather disapoointed. However, while paddling up one ^of the many 

 nullahs which run into this piece of water, we came on the nests of the above 

 bird. The first lot were attached to some rushes or flags growing in water; 

 the others were built on grass along the banks of the nullah. They are 

 typical Weaver Birds' nests. The chief difference appears to me to be that 

 they are not so large as those of P. baya. The passage to the egg chamber 

 seemed shorter and that chamber deeper ; further, the nests were attached to 

 several rushes or bits of grass, and consequently are not so neat as those of 

 their cousins. 



On the 29th August I found several nests in the grass bir referred to above. 

 In this case they were built on elephant-grass, but in other respects were 

 similar to the first lot, I would add that only two nests, as a rule, were 

 found in one place, apparently one for the use of the male. They were not 

 built in colonies, nor did the birds keep up a cheery chatter like P . baya. 



Four would appear to be the full complement of eggs, though I got six 

 eggs out of one nest. The eggs are similar to those of P, baya, hut on the 

 whole, I should say, they are a trifle smaller. 



Barnes in his " Birds of Bombay " states that the Bald Coot {Fulica atra) 

 breeds in India, as also says Oates in " Hume's Nests and Eggs," I do not 

 doubt the veracity of these gentlemen in the very least, This bird swarms 

 round Baroda in the cold weather, particularly at Ajwa, When I visited this 

 tank, as mentioned above, I hoped to obtain this birds eggs. Imagine my 

 disgust when I found not a single bird on the tank, which is some 10 miles in 

 perimeter, I found the same at every tank I visited, so I feel convinced 

 that they are migratory in Guzerat at any rate. 



The Bristled Grass Warbler {ChcBtomis locustelloides).— This bird forced 

 itself on my notice on the same occasion at Ajwa. Oates in editing " Hume's 

 Nests and Eggs" describes the peculiar habit this bird has of " suddenly rising 

 into the air and soaring about, often for a consideralde distance, uttering a 

 loud note resembling the words ' chirrup, chirrup-chirrup ' repeated all the 

 time the bird is in the au", and then suddenly descending slowly into the 

 grass with outspread wings, much in the style of Mirafra erythroptera^'' 



