400 rouniA madagascariensis 



the rice-lields. They do not breed in colonies, but in separate 

 trees, and lay four or five eggs, which are of a pale bluish green 

 and measure on an average 0'76 x 0"52. 



The species is generally known to the natives as the 

 " Fody," and they distinguish the full plumaged male as the 

 " Fodymena" (Red Fody) and those in the dull female plumage 

 as the " Fodymata " (unripe Fody). 



Dr. Russ writes : " In ornamental plumage, which in 

 Madagascar the males assume in October, aud on Reuuion in 

 November and December, they fight one another furiously. 

 The naturalist, Pollen, describes the nest as pear-shaped, with 

 lateral entrance hole, made of fine grasses, plaited between 

 two or four branches of acacia, mimosa, tamarisk, &c., 

 sometimes also in a reed-thicket. Lafresnayes, on the other 

 hand, figures the nest of a longish round shape and suspended 

 between thin twigs. 



" The nest has the form of a retort with the tube cut off, 

 yet the upper roof projects somewhat over it, while the front 

 of the outer wall hangs down so that the entrance leads up to 

 it from below." The nest, he informs us, is so thin that it 

 can be seen through, but is very firmly woven and measures 

 4 inches deep by 2"5 broad. The eggs are hatched in about 

 fifteen days, and the young are at first dark brownish. On 

 the third day, after leaving the nest, they are tolerably strong 

 on the wing and able to follow their parents, the male assisting 

 in feeding them. As a rule, three broods are reared in a 

 year. 



The species is apparently abundant on Reunion, Mauritius 

 and the Seychelles. In this latter archipelago Dr. Abbott 

 has collected specimens on Mohe, Amirant and the Isle des 

 Roche. 



