THE BAYA. 69 



of trees, especially where they happen to impend 

 over 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 a more 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 large communities, and 

 cover extensive clumps of palmyras, acacias, and 

 date-trees with their nests. These are formed in a 

 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. 



