PLOCEUS. 339 



upper stalks of reeds, with the leaves interwoven, and smaller than that of 

 bengalensis or manyar, less large in the body, and generally with a long and 

 narrow tubular entrance. The unfinished-like nests are inhabited by the males. 

 Breeds wherever found from April to June. Eggs white, 3, 4 or 5 in number- 

 All the species of this genus are taken young by natives, and taught to perch 

 on the hands and to perform various feats. 



874. Ploceus baya, Biyth, J. A. S. B. xiii. p. 945 ; Jerd., B. Ind. 



ii- P- 343 (part); JBlanf., J. A. S. B. xli. pt. ii. p. 167 ; Hume, Nests and 

 Eggs Ind. B . p. 436 (part) ; Hume, Str. F. iii. p. 153 ; Hume and Davison, 

 Sir. F. vi. p. 398 ; Hume, Str. F. vii. p. 1 20 ; Oates, B. Br. Burm, i. p. 360. 

 Ploceus phillipinus, apud Blyth, B. Burm. p. 92 ; Oates, Str. F. v. p. 160. 

 Ploceus megarhynchus, Hume, Str. F. iii. p. 406 ; id., Str. F. vi. p. 400. 

 The BAYA. 



Male in Summer. Forehead and top of head yellow ; plumage of the upper 

 surface of the body, including the wings and tail, dark brown edged with 

 fulvous, the rump and upper tail coverts being almost uniform, fulvous ; sides 

 of the head, chin and throat blackish brown; breast and under surface of the 

 body rusty, brightest on the breast and palest on the abdomen. Bill black ; 

 inside of mouth flesh colour; eyelids grey; iris dark brown; legs flesh 

 colour. 



Length. 5-5 to 5*7 inches ; wing 2'8 ; tarsus O'9 ; bill from gape 0*7. 



Hab. British Burmah, where, according to Oates, it is found abundantly 

 over the plains and lower hills. It ranges through the Indo-Burmese countries 

 into Bengal, Sikkim and Nepaul. In the Peninsula it is represented by 

 P. phillipinus. Dr. Tiraud states it is found in Cochin-China, also in the 

 Malay Peninsula and Sumatra. These birds associate in large flocks at 

 all seasons of the year, and are commonly found in rice and corn fields in 

 company with various Buntings, also Sparrows and Amadinas. 



They breed under the eaves of houses, or on trees, make a large flask- 

 shaped structure of grass, the admittance to the inside of which is from a 

 long narrow tube about 18 inches in length. The breeding season, according 

 to locality, is from April to September, and from 10 to 50 pairs of birds 

 breed in company. Eggs 2 3 in number, glossless white, typically rather 

 long ovals, pointed toward one end or at both ends, varying in size from 0^75 

 to 0-9 x 0-52 to 0-62. 



875- Ploceus manyar, Horsf., Trans. Lin. Socy. xiii. p. 160; 

 Hume, Str. F. vi. p. 399 ; Jerd., B. Ind. ii. p. 348 ; Hume, Nest's and Eggs 

 Ind. B. p. 440 ; Blyth, B. Burm. p. 92 ; Oates, Str. F. v. p. 160 ; Hume, 

 Sir. F. viii. p. 106 ; Legge, B. Ceylon, p. 646 ; Murray, Vert. ZooL Sind, 

 p. 181 ; Oates, B. Br. Burm. i. p. 360. Euplectes striatus, Blyth, J. A. 

 S. B. xi. p. 873. The STRIATED WEAVER BIRD, 



