THE INDIAN SILVER-BILL. 209 



out to be a nest in a nest. The Manias evidently selected that of 

 the Eagle to make their own in, to secure warmth from their mighty 

 companion." 



The following account is also from the pen of the same author: 

 " Breeds in August and September. The nest is a large loosely 

 constructed fabric of fine grass, at least on the outside. The lining is 

 a soft flowering grass, and very neatly laid on the interior of the nest. 

 The nests are almost always found supported in branches of low 

 jungle bushes, sometimes about the middle, at others near the top. 

 The nest is of various shapes, and its intended form appeared to me to 

 be regulated according to situation. When it could be done, with 

 convenience as well as safety, the nest assumed an almost globular 

 shape, with an entrance hole at one side ; at other times it is open at 

 the top, with the sides, or rather the grass of the sides, curving over. 

 Again, some of the nests were of the shape of a hemisphere, with a 

 hollow for the eggs ; but whatever shape, the material of the nest was 

 the same. 



" It is very difficult to state the number of eggs of a pair. I 

 have found as many as fifteen in one nest, and every one of them 

 quite fresh, at least on blowing them they appeared to be so. No 

 doubt the eggs were of some two or three pairs. But, I believe, six 

 is about the regular number of one pair. In the assistant's bungalow 

 at Bubeena, a Weaver-bird's nest was hung up at one end of the 

 verandah. Some short time after a pair of Munias took possession of 

 it, and, though the people were constantly passing within a foot or 

 two under it, the female laid six eggs. Unfortunately the peon on 

 watch with his lathi accidentally struck the nest and capsized it, eggs 

 and all." 



From Poona, Mr. B. Aitken writes: "I have seen countless nests 

 of this bird, but it is difficult to give any accurate account of its 

 nidification, owing to the confused way in which it manages its 

 domestic affairs. Sometimes two pairs seem to unite in partnership, 

 or, again, solitary females will go on laying any number of barren 

 eggs, as fast as the lizards can eat them up ! So my information 

 must be a little vague. 



" In Poona they breed in the cold season ; they commonly build 

 all over the rocky plains, but many also in gardens in the cantonment. 

 The nest is usually about six feet from the ground, and varies from 

 a large hollow ball of fine grass, with a hole at one side, to a flat 

 nest with some of the grass bent over in an arch. The material is 

 almost always plain grass, there is no lining. In one case, which I 



Q 



