Sir R. H. Schomburgk on the Birds of Siam. 257 



They breed several times iu the course of the year^ and have from 

 four to five eggs : addled eggs^ or young ones that succumb to 

 premature death, are thrown out of the nest. I have frequently 

 had the crevices between the beams of the verandah blocked up ; 

 but they have generally contrived to remove the obstacle^ although 

 it seemed sometimes incredible that they could have eflfected it. 



Their chatter commences long before the rising of the sun j 

 nay, I frequently hear them during night. It continues the 

 day through^ but is most animated about sunset. 



During a certain time, when the seeds of a grass are in season, 

 they collect in crowds on the ground. I have known on such 

 occasions from twenty to thirty fall at a single discharge' of the 

 gun. 



20. Ploceus hypoxanthus (Daud.). 



When ascending the Menam, I met with this pretty Yellow 

 Weaver-bird {Ploceus hypoxanthus), which constructs its nest, 

 kidney-shaped, in a skilful manner, of culms of grass : the open- 

 ing is lateral. There are always a number of nests on the same 

 tree. The Weaver-birds are social. How far their singing 

 power extends I have not been able to ascertain. Though the 

 bird is not uncommon, principally in the Lao country, I never 

 heard one of them sing in such a sti'ain as others of the Finch 

 tribe. They assemble in prodigious numbers in the rice-fields 

 when the grain is ripe, and are great depredators, joining others 

 of the feathered tribe iu the spoliation. Scaffoldings are erected 

 to overlook the rice-fields, where a youth is stationed to drive 

 them away by hue-and-cry and rattle. 



21. TiGA INTERMEDIA, Blyth. 



This Three-toed Woodpecker is a handsome representative 

 of this interesting family ; its head is black, spotted with white; 

 back crimson ; wing-coverts green, with golden yellow ; pri- 

 maries black ; tail-feathers of the same colour. Thus arrayed, 

 it shows itself one of the most gorgeous of the family. 



I found it at Raheng, on the southern frontier of the Lao 

 country. 



22. Gecinus DiMiDiATUs (Tcmm.). 



This is another fine Woodpecker of a greenish plumage, with 



