558 Mr. W. Jesse — Birds' -nesting 



Ploceus baya (Blyth). Weaver-bird. 



Hind. [Lucknoiv] : Baja. 



A very curious nest of this species was brought to me by 

 Mr. Lucas in the first v? eek in October. This nest, or rather 

 collection of nests, is composed of seven distinct egg-cavities 

 placed one below the other. The different chambers appear 

 to have been added year by year ; the lowest only was com- 

 posed of the season's grass, the material of the others 

 getting older and older, the top one being so old that 

 it seemed a wonder that it had not come to pieces with the 

 weight of the lower stories. Three out of the seven chambers 

 were in actual use, containing two, three, and three eggs 

 respectively. Though I have seeu hundreds of these nests, 

 this is the first time I have noticed anything like the above. 



Pyrrhulauda grisea (Blyth). Ashy-crowned Finch- 

 Lark. 



Very numerous all over the wide sandy plains. I found 

 several of its nests in March and April, and Mr. Lucas took 

 their eggs again in September and October. The nest is a 

 neat little cup placed in a hole or inequality in the ground, 

 often under a plant or bush ; it is, however, very loosely 

 put together and has little or no lining. The number of eggs 

 appears never to exceed two. This Lark always, rises at 

 once on being flushed and does not run a little way first, like 

 most other species ; hence its nest, which in ordinary cases 

 would with difficulty be found, is discovered with comparative 

 ease. 



TuRTUR CAMBAiENsis (Gmclin). Brown Turtle-Dove. 



Hind. \Lucknow\ : Pindak ; Pirki. 



For a long time I was under the impression that this 

 species was either wanting or rare around Lucknow, but I 

 have since discovered that it is common enough in certain 

 parts of the station. The four Doves, T. camhaiensis, 

 T. suratensis, T. humi/is, and T. risorius, appear to keep 

 more or less to diff'erent localities. T. suratensis is the com- 

 monest Dove, making its nest in the verandas of houses as 

 well as in bushes ; 2\ humilis is especially partial to babool- 



