1869. ] MR. C. HORNE ON PLOCEUS BAYA. 243 
orifice with her own ordure. This she must have brought up from 
the bottom of the hole; and she plastered it right and left with the 
flat sides of her beak, as witb a trowel. 
I never saw the male bring anything but food; and I never found 
any fruit which had been rejected under the tree, and but very little 
ordure, which latter had apparently been thrown out by the female 
when the closing-work was finished. 
The male bird would alight near, then fly to the hole, holding on 
to the bark by his claws, and knock with his beak. On this the 
points of that of the female appeared and received the fruit, when 
the male flew off. 
I herewith beg to submit some of the substance with which the 
hole was closed up, which is manifestly what I suppose it to be, 
and when fresh, possesses great viscidity. It contains the remains 
of insects, which probably the female had eaten before she entered 
the hole—thus confirming Dr. Jerdon’s statement as to their various 
diet. 
The hole was at first perhaps 6 inches in height, and 3 or 4 wide. 
When closed up, the opening at the widest part was a little larger 
than would admit the finger. It should, however, be borne in mind 
that the bill opened upwards, and thus had 3 or 4 inches play. The 
plastering-operation took two or three days, after which the ordure 
was thrown out. 
The third Hornbill used to hover about, watch proceedings, and 
sometimes quarrel with the accepted lord, but he never brought 
food to the female. 
On May 7, thinking that I had given time enough for the female 
to lay her three eggs, which I wanted, I got a ladder, opened out 
the nest, and with some difficulty got out the bird, who was fat and 
in good condition, with the desired eggs (three). At first she could 
scarcely fly, but did so after a little time. 
The natives, who know the habits of these birds well, told me 
that the female digs herself out directly her newly hatched young 
need food; and this is most probably correct. 
7. Notes on Ploceus baya and its Nest. 
By C. Hornz, F.Z.S. 
(Plate XVIL.) 
In submitting these notes upon Ploceus baya I do not suppose 
that I am narrating anything not previously observed, although 1 
have never met with any account of the method in which this inge- 
nious bird obtains its material. 
I cannot solve the mystery of the lumps of clay found in the 
nests, although I have examined many at all seasons for the pur- 
pose. I may remark, however, that I have seldom, if ever, found a 
finished nest without them. 
