148 PLOCEID^E. 



the banlt of a stream, did I find a nest, at the base of a small 

 plum-bush, with the under portions resting on the ground. So 

 well concealed was it that, but for the sudden flight of the female 

 on my near approach, I should never have detected it. The nest 

 contained six tiny creatures a day or two old. 



" The nest, in dimensions and shape, much resembles that of 

 U. malabarica, though more neatly and compactly made; the 

 opening is invariably at the side. Coarse and fine grass con- 

 stitute the material of the fabric. On some nests I have found 

 spiders' web in places firmly attached to the exterior. And here I 

 may note a curious fact. The male bird often persistently con- 

 tinues to bring and add materials to the nest during the process of 

 incubation. The return of the bird with grass in his beak has 

 many a time betrayed the situation of a nest, with the female and 

 full complement of eggs more or less incubated, which, but for 

 this singular habit, would never have been discovered. The 

 largest number of eggs taken in one nest was eight; but six 

 would appear to be the normal number. The Red Munia, 

 according to my experience, breeds but once a year, building 

 a fresh nest each time. The eggs are laid daily; but the full 

 period of incubation I have not ascertained. Both parents share 

 in the building of the nest, as well as in hatching and feeding of 

 the young." 



Colonel Butler writes : " On the 27th September, 1880, 1 

 found a nest at Belgaum containing seven tiny, fresh, white eggs. 

 It was placed in the centre of a low bush, in a nullah overgrown 

 with long grass, and consisted of a good-sized ball of dry grass, 

 coarse exteriorly, fine interiorly, lined with a few large white 

 feathers ; in fact, the cock bird brought one of these feathers 

 to the nest just before I took it. A few heads of fine flowering 

 grass protruded from the entrance, which was rather large for the 

 size of the nest, and on one side. The cock and hen seemed to 

 take it turn about to sit on the eggs, and were not at all shy, 

 returning several times to the nest before I had walked ten yards 

 from it. Eventually I snared them both at the nest, capturing 

 the cock bird first and the hen a few minutes afterwards. Two 

 more eggs were taken by one of my nest-seekers the same day, 

 from another nest." 



He adds : " Mr. Davidson sent me three eggs taken at Dhulia, 

 Khandesh, 10th October, 1880, and others at Pirnpalnir, Khaudesh, 

 21st January, 1881." 



"Writing from Kotagherry, Miss Cockburn says : " These birds 

 build large round nests, consisting entirely of fine long grass, and 

 lined with a few feathers ; the entrance is at one side. They 

 appear fond of placing their nests at the roots of small bushes, and 

 sometimes among the branches, but very low down. They lay six 

 very small white eggs, which, without exception, are the most 

 diminutive I have ever found in any bird's nest here. They build 

 their nest in November and December." 



I never happened to find feathers in any nest; and Mr. 



