292 FIBST LIST OF THE BIRDS OF 



to six inches in breadth and about twenty inches in depth. The 

 nest was a mere pad of grass and feathers, on which rested four 

 very slightly incubated eggs. Later on the 17th July, seeing 

 the hole still occupied, I again sent up a boy who found four 

 more fresh eggs in it. The tree formed one of an avenue, lead- 

 ing from the house to the vats, and as men were always going 

 along the road, it rather surprised me to find these birds 

 laying there. The hole had been caused by the heart of the 

 tree rotting. 



688.— *Temenuchus malabaricus, Gmel. 



Very common from the end of April to October, after which 

 a few birds may be seen at times. I cannot call to mind ever 

 having seen these birds descend to the ground. They must breed 

 here, though I failed to find a nest. In front of my verandah 

 was a large M Poinciana regia" tree, in the trunk of which, and 

 at about seven feet from the ground, was an old nest hole of 

 Xanlholcema, which a pair of these birds widened out. During all 

 May and June I watched these birds pecking away at the rotten 

 wood and throwing the bits out. They generally used to en- 

 gage in this work during the heat of the day ; and, although 

 I several times searched the hole, no eggs were found, the pair 

 were not pecking at the decayed wood for insects, for I watched 

 them through a glass ; had I remained another month at the 

 factory most likely they would have laid during that time ; it 

 was on this account their lives were spared. This species 

 associates with its congeners on the Peepul trees when they 

 are in fruit, which latter they eat greedily. 



694.— *Ploceus baya, Blyth. 



Excessively common, and a permanent resident, very des- 

 tructive to the paddy crops when in the ear. In the cold wea- 

 ther the males drop the yellow crown. Builds in all kinds of 

 trees and at various heights from the ground. It breeds from 

 May to August. I have, on several occasions, found a second 

 nest commenced from the bottom of the tube of an old one, 

 the upper nest being useless as the passage is closed up. They 

 lay from two to five eggs, and very often only a single young 

 one is found. I unfortunately preserved no specimens, and this 

 may have been P. philippi?ms. I did not then understand the 

 differences between the two species which have now been made 

 clear by the Editor, (vide S. F., VI., 398.) 



695.— Ploceus manyar, Eorsfield. 



Very common. I cannot say whether this species is a per- 

 manent resident or not. At the commencement of May I 



