712 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XIII. 
No. XXIV.—EARLY BREEDING OF THE COMMON IORA 
4UGITHINA TIPHIA, 
Yesterday (13th March) I founda nest of Zgithina tiphia in my garden 
containing 2 fresh eggs. I have searched all the books at my command and 
cannot find any note on the breeding 2f this bird before the month of May. 
Jerdon mentions that it breeds twice a year, but other authorities seem to 
doubt this. This does not appear to be an isolated case,as I have several 
other pairs in the garden all of whom appear to be breeding. Does this not, 
in a Way, go to prove that Jerdon was right ? 
The nest was placed in an upright fork of a Mango tree about 20 feet 
from the ground ; it was very well concealed, and: was only discovered after 
a minute search. It was the constant trilling note of the cock that made me 
suspect the hen was sitting, 
The eggs are typical Iora’s being creamy white longitudinally streaked with 
purplish and reddish-brown. 
: EK. E. TOOTH. 
Dum-Doum, 14th March, 1901. 
No, XXV.—THE FLOWERING HABITS OF THE VIOLET, 
I was recently asked to explain the reason for the flowers of the violet 
concealing themselves among the leaves, I explained as follows :— 
lt is a notorious fact that although a number of flowers of the violet are 
fully exposed, yet many are:to be found hidden away among the leaves, and 
there is every reason to believe that the habit of the plant is in great part 
to conceal its flowers, Yet from the fact of some of the flowers being 
exposed this habit does not seem to be a confirmed one. 
Next the method of fertilisation must be considered. 
The normal flower is adapted to insect fertilisation and seems to be perfect 
for this purpose, Butit is known that violets bear very small inconspi- 
cuous and closed flowers that are technically called “cleistogamous,” These 
flowers are for purposes of self-fertilisation and economise pollen which is 
produced in very much greater abundance in the ordinary flower. It is not 
necessary to state here the advantages and disadvantages of the two methods 
of fertilisation. It is necessary only to note that while normal flowers are 
borne as a rule, yet cleistogamous flowers are sometimes to be found along 
with them, 
‘Yhus we find a somewhat unsettled habit in conjunction with a somewhat. 
unsettled method of fertilisation, 
Treating, then, the cleistogamous flower of the violet in the same manner 
as a rudiment is treated by a zoologist, it might be reasonably supposed that 
the cleistogamous flower of the violet represents an ancient normal condition 
