118 PLOCEIJ)^. 



" As the wind was blowing freshly the nests swung about a good 

 deal, and it was pretty to see a little bird fly up in a great hurry 

 with a long bit of grass in his beak. He would sit outside the 

 nest, holding on by his claws with the grass under him. He would 

 then put the right end into the nest with his beak, and the female 

 inside would pull it through and put it out for him again ; and 

 thus the plaiting of the nest went on. All this was done amidst 

 tremendous chattering, and the birds seemed to think it great fun. 

 When a piece was used up one would give the other a peck, and 

 he or she would fly off for more material, the other sitting quietly 

 till the worker returned. Nests in every stage of building afforded 

 every position for the bird, who seemed at home in all of them. 



"My llth, 1865. To-day I noticed that nearly all the nests 

 had been repaired, and the birds were more scattered, either helping 

 themselves to my jowar (Sorghum vulgare) in the field or collecting 

 insects. 



" July 20th. -I observed some eight or ten newly-built nests on 

 the ground under the tree, which I believe to have been deliberately 

 cut off from their supports by the thievish Striped Squirrels (Sciurus 

 palmarum) for use by them in their nests. Some of these bad 

 unbroken eggs in them. 



"August 18th. Noticed to-day how the birds obtain their grass. 

 The little bird alights at the edge of the high strong sarpat grass 

 (Andropogon euripeta ?) with its head down, and bites through the 

 edge to the exact thickness which it requires. It then goes higher 

 up to the same blade of grass, and having considered the length 

 needed bites through it again. It then seizes it firmly at the lowest 

 notch and flies away. Of course the strip of grass tears off and 

 stops at the notch. It then flies along with the grass streaming 

 behind it. As the edge of the grass is much serrated, the bird has 

 to consider and pass it through the work the right way. This 

 serration renders it so difficult to pull a nest to pieces, and makes 

 the same nest last for years. 



" In some instances the male continues to build for amusement 

 after the nest is finished, not only elongating the tubular entrance, 

 but also making a kind of false nest. 



" Before the colony ceased building there were more than seventy 

 nests in the tree." 



A good deal has been written about the nidification of the Baya, 

 which is more curious than true. 



One gentleman, for instance, says : " One bird I observed com- 

 mencing its nest from the bottom, resting it on a twig having 

 plenty of leaves ! ! !" 



The notes of admiration are mine, and it is not too much, I 

 think, to say that this gentleman ought to have used spectacles. 

 Numbers of notes on the nidification of the Baya have been kindly 

 sent me, some very good and full ones, but I think Dr. Jerdou's 

 and Mr. Home's, which I have quoted, contain nearly all that need 

 be said on the subject. 



