i3i A BIRD CALENDAR 



In the rainy season two other birds weave 

 nests, which are nearly as elegant as those 

 woven by the baya. These birds, however, 

 do not nest in company. They usually build 

 inside bushes, or in long grass. 



For this reason they do not lend themselves 

 to observation while at work so readily as 

 bayas do. The birds in question are the 

 Indian and the ashy wren-warbler. 



The former species brings up two broods 

 in the year. One, as has been mentioned, in 

 March and the other in the " rains." 



The nest o the Indian wren-warbler (Prinia 

 mornata) is, except for its shape and its smaller 

 size, very like that of a weaver-bird. It is 

 an elongated purse or pocket, closely and 

 compactly woven with fine strips of grass 

 from $ to ^j inch in breadth. The nest 

 is entered by a hole near the top. Both 

 birds work at the nest, clinging first to the 

 neighbouring stems of grass or twigs, and later 

 to the nest itself when this has attained 

 sufficient dimensions to afford them foothold. 

 They push the ends of the grass in and out 

 just as weaver-birds do. Like the baya, 

 the Indian wren-warbler does not line its 

 nest. The eggs are pale greenish-blue, richly 



