THE SPICE FINCH. 227 



same. The entrance, which is on one side, is small. The nests are 

 placed in low trees and shrubs, commonly in such as are well furnished 

 with thorns. They lay from five to eight dead-white eggs.' 



" To my friend, Miss Margaret Cockburn, I am indebted for the 

 following charming account of the nidification of this species : ' The 

 Spotted Munia is migratory with us, and only appears in the Nilghiris 

 during June and the four following months. 



" ' They return regularly to their own haunts, even to the same 

 bushes in which they built the previous season. 



" ' Several pairs of these birds build in the trellis around our 

 windows, so near the groiind that I have often put my finger into 

 the nest and felt the eggs. 



" 'I am perfectly sure that each pair takes possession of the same 

 trellis in which it built in previous years, and that should the old 

 nest remain where they left it, they commence another alongside it ; 

 should, however, the old abode be removed, they will build again on 

 the exact site which it occupied. 



" ' The great majority migrate, as already mentioned, to the low 

 country during the cold season, and return when the small grains, 

 millets, and the like (cultivated so abundantly by the hill-tribes), are 

 just beginning to come into ear. I have, however, observed one or 

 two of these birds among flocks of Amaduvats during the month of 

 December. 



" ' I have watched with great interest, year after year, these pretty 

 friendly little birds, and have very carefully noted their behaviour and 

 habits. In selecting a place to build on, they sit on a twig, and 

 raising themselves as high as possible, flap their wings over their 

 backs to ascertain that no small branches are likely to obstruct the 

 progress of the building, thus appearing to be fully aware that their 

 nest will occupy a good deal of space. When perfectly satisfied as to 

 the convenience of the spot, the female remains there while the male 

 flies to a short distance, alights on the ground, and breaking off a 

 piece of fine long grass, flies back with it to the female, and continues 

 to bring her at least one piece every minute, while she carries on the 

 building process alone. 



" ' They begin early and build for an hour or so, and then leave 

 it till evening and work late, keeping up an incessant cry of ' Kitty, 

 Kitty, Kitty.' 



' The nest is composed entirely of grass ; the entrance is at one 

 side, a small round hole, so small that two fingers can hardly be 

 inserted. They build in July and August, and lay from six to ten 



