82 GARDEN AND AVIARY BIRDS. 



the undersurface of the body and nearly all over the 

 head, so that practically the only brown parts are the 

 wings and tail. 



My friend Mr. E. W. Harper secured a specimen of 

 this fine bird lately, which passed into the possession 

 of a well-known naturalist at home. This was procured 

 in Tiretta Bazar at Calcutta, and some time later a dozen 

 birds of the species turned up there, and were bought 

 for training by a Parsee resident of that city, who took 

 them to England for exhibition. The two birds, on 

 which I was able to re-establish the species which 

 Mr. Hume had first named from two skins, were obtained 

 from the late Mr. Rutledge at Entally, so that in Calcutta 

 one has the best chance of coming across one of the rarest 

 and least known of Indian birds, only the few specimens 

 I have alluded to being known to exist. 



A very handsome foreign Weaver is often to be found 

 for sale in the Bombay market, and now and then in 

 Calcutta. This is : 



THE MADAGASCAR WEAVER (Foudia madagascariensis)* 

 called the Mauritius Baya by Calcutta dealers ; and the 

 Scarlet Bishop by English ones at home. It is a well- 

 known cage-bird, and has been turned loose in several 

 places and allowed to go wild, as in Mauritius ; its natural 

 home being of course Madagascar. 



It is a little smaller and weaker in bill than the true 

 Baya of India, but otherwise much resembles it in the 

 sparrow-like winter plumage, which is, however, darker. 

 The hens, of course, always retain this dress, but the 

 cock in spring becomes of a splendid scarlet almost all 



