19 



ing of this bird, he says : — " This Munia breeds often gregariously. The 

 season of its nesting lasts from May until August. In the former month 

 I found many nests among the gigantic ' maana '-grass and tangled 

 ' brackens ' wliich cover the Uva patnas ; and in the latter I found it nesting, 

 a number together, among reeds near Hambantota, in company with the 

 Baya (Ploccus manyarl). The nest is sometimes placed in a low bush ; 

 but it is more frequently built in grass and ' brackens.' It is a large, 

 strongly made, globular structure, composed of the material nearest to hand, 

 either blades of grass and roots, or strips of reeds, with a large unfinished- 

 looking opening at the side. The interior is roomy, and in some cases very 

 deep, and is lined with flowering grass-stalks or fine grass itself. The eggs 

 vary from four to six in number, but most commonly do not exceed the 

 former figure ; they are pure white, rather stumpy ovals, and larger than 

 those of its congeners. I have found them to vary from 0"73 to 0'63 inch 

 in length, and 0"45 to 0*5 inch in breadth. 



" In India it breeds from July till October." 



Specimens examined. 



The figures of the adult birds are taken from a and c ; that of the young 

 from life. 



