Birds of Lucknow. 555 



but in dry dhak -jungles, no matter how shady the trees may 

 be_, I have never seen it. It also avoids mango-topes/* 



No. 691. Petrophila ciNCLORHYNCHA. Bluc-headed Rock- 

 Thrush. 



A rare cold-weather visitor. Reid came across it on two 

 or three occasions near Byramghat, and twice in mango- 

 groves near Lucknow. 



No. 698. Oreocincla dauma. Small-billed Mountain- 

 Thrush. 



A cold-weather visitor, frequenting the same localities as 

 Geocichla citrina, and about as uncommon. 



No. 720. Ploceus baya. Baya or Baya Weaver-bird. 



The Baya is a common and permanent resident, though 

 rather local in its distribution. It prefers those parts where 

 there is a certain amount of water. It breeds in colonies, 

 making a retort-shaped nest which is suspended from the 

 twigs of the babool or from the leaves of the toddy-palm, 

 and if there is any water at hand the nests are sure to over- 

 hang it. Sometimes the old structures are repaired, and I had 

 one given me by Mr. P. J. Lucas which had seven chambers, 

 one below the other, only the last, that of the year, being 

 in use. The number of eggs, which are laid between June 

 and September, is usually two, but occasionally three or four. 

 They are pure white. The Baya makes an interesting pet, 

 as it is easily tamed and taught to perform tricks. 



Average of 18 Lucknow eggs "SO" x "57" 



Measurement of largest e^g '86" x "60" 



„ smallest e^g '75" x "55" 



No. 723. Ploceus manyar. Striated Weaver-bird. 



Telia-bay a [H.]. 



Reid wrote: — ''Though Jerdon states that the Striated 

 Weaver-bird does not appear in the North-west Provinces 

 ('Birds of India,' vol. iv. p. 349), he must, I think, have 

 been misinformed, as it certainly is not uncommon during 

 the rains here and in suitable localities throughout both 

 Oudh and the N.W. Provinces. In July 1878, when the 

 Goomti was in high flood, some hundreds of these birds 



