THE BAYA. 69 
of trees, especially where they happen to impend 
ovér a river or precipice. The object of this pre- 
caution is obviously to secure their offspring from 
the assaults of their numerous enemies, particularly 
the serpent race. To increase the difficulty of ac- 
cess to these ‘ tree-rocked cradles,’ the entrance is 
always from below, and frequently through a cylin- 
drical passage of twelve or fifteen inches in length, 
projecting from the spherical nest, exactly like the 
tube of a chymist’s retort. The whole fabric is 
most ingeniously and elegantly woven of a species 
of very tough grass; and the wonderful instinct of 
foresight (or whatever else we may choose to call 
it) displayed by the little architect in its construc- 
tion, is calculated to excite the highest admiration. 
I have often seen twenty or more of these beautiful 
nests hanging from a single tree.”* 
The following is amore detailed account of either 
the same or a similar species. 
“The baya, or bottle-nested sparrow,” says 
Forbes, “is remarkable for its pendant nest, brilliant 
plumage, and uncommon sagacity. These birds are 
found in most parts of Hindostan; in shape they 
resemble the sparrow, as also in the brown feathers 
of the back and wings; the head and breast of a 
bright yellow, and in the rays of a tropical sun have 
a splendid appearance, when flying by thousands in 
the same grove; they make a chirping noise, but have 
no song; they associate in largg communities, and 
cover extensive clumps of palmyras, acacias, and 
date-trees with their nests. ‘These are formed ina 
very ingenious manner, by long grass woven to- 
gether in the shape of a bottle, and suspended by 
the other end to the extremity of a flexible branch, 
the more effectually to secure the eggs and young 
brood from serpents, monkeys, squirrels, and birds 
of prey. These nests contain several apartments, 
appropriated to different purposes: in one the hen 
* Pringle’s Ephemerides, Notes. 
