THE BIRDS OF BANGKOK. I9t 



Central and FeuiiisLilar Siaiii, but I have al<o [)rocure(l it at Siiraclia, 

 ill Soutli-eastern Siani. 



Family i'/.OCATD.Ti,'— Weaver-birds and Munias. 

 45 (721). Ploceus megarhynchus, Hume. The Eastern 

 Baya or Weaver-bird . 



PInceus mi'i/iir/ii/ni/iii.'<. (iaiiJiK-i-, .rmnii. N. 11. S. Siiim I, {i. 149. 

 I'locew jKi/'sennui! hifiiihiniitiis. GylJi'iistuljie 1916, J). 28. 



Siamese, wn Wll^^\^ mm^m (Nok kra-chab hua-liiang). 



Description. Lengtli about 152 mm. (C in.). Male in irinter, 

 and female at all seasons. Upper [jhunage fulvous streaked with brown, 

 narrowly on the head and neck, more broa lly on the back — the streaks 

 becoming obsolete on the rump and upper tail-coverts ; (juills and tail 

 dark brown, each feather edged with fulvous, the edges of the primaries 

 and tail-feathers being also tinged with greenish ; sides of the head 

 fulvous brown ; whole lower plumage fulvous, darker on the breast and 

 flanks. Male in smaiuer. Forehead, crown and nape bright yellow ; 

 si<les of head, as well as chin and throat dark brown; breast tawny, 

 l)aling to fulvous or iilbescent on the abdomen. 



Iris brown. 15111; male, in winter, and female, at all seasons, 

 browni.sh horn-coluur, e.xcept base of lower mandible which i.s yellowish ; 

 male, in summer, black. Legs pale flesh-colour. Claws pale pinkish 

 horn-colour. 



Habits, ttc. The Weaver-birds are highly gregarious, breeding 

 in company in the summer, and being found in large flocks at other 

 seasons. In Bangkok this bird is chiefly in evidence from April (when 

 the male assumes its j'ellow crown) to nearly the end of the rains, as 

 it is then busily engaged in building operations, and its long, hanging 

 nests, usuall}' suspended from the tips of branches, over water, 

 are familiar to most residents in this city. While the nest-building is 

 going on (and there appear to be a succession of broods during the 

 breeding season) the birds keep ui> a constant chatter, and as the nests 

 are nearly alwaj's in colonies, the volume of sound is sometimes con- 

 siderable. These birds are quite fearless, and seem to be almost obli- 

 vious of the j)resence of man — a group of nests being often seen on a 

 tree of no particular size within a few feet of a house. 



VOL. II, MAY 1917. 



