U6 



of Crunchers. The female bird on the nest is only discoverable by 

 the eye. 



40. Passer indica, J. et S. Native name, Gourya. 



Lays four eggs, white speckled with brown. The nest is com- 

 posed of grass, hemp, and lined inside with large soft feathers. I 

 have observed them throwing out their dung from the nest with their 



beaks. 



41. Ploceus Baya, Blyth. Native name, Baya. 



The Baya arrives in the neighbourhood of Muttra in the hot 

 weather, and begins to build during the rains. It would seem that 

 they preferred those trees which, from any cause, are most inacces- 

 sible. Thus, in this neighbourhood, they suspend their nests from 

 the Babul (Mimosa arabica), the terrible thorns of which keep all 

 intruders at a distance; but, however, where palm-trees abound, 

 they always select them, as being quite inaccessible, especially at the 

 extreme tips of the leaves, where they generally suspend their nest. 

 The nest is generally commenced from the top, the birds forming a 

 circle like a hoop, on which they sit and swing while working ; the 

 top of the hoop is gradually widened, so as at last to form a dome 

 with two supports ; and thus the work goes on, till the whole dome 

 has come to the length of the bottom of the hoop : there the nest 

 begins to be formed into two compartments ; on one side of the hoop 

 the nest itself is placed, the other side being formed into an entrance. 



They build the nest with one kind of dry grass, and during its for- 

 mation you may observe them walking over the outside of the nest, 

 prying about in every direction, and here and there tightening a fibre 

 by seizing it with their beak and moving their head to and fro. 

 They do not seem in any great hurry to complete the nest, but are 

 very anxious to have it the proper shape, and, I suppose, sufficiently 

 water-tight : indeed, no form could be better devised for a bird which 

 builds only in the rainy season. I have observed them suspend the 

 making of the nest for a month after the first few showers till the 

 heavy rains begin to descend. They often take the liberty to hop 

 on to a neighbour's nest and look about it, but never rob it of mate- 

 rials. Sometimes the high wind shakes down the nest, if not at- 

 tached sufficiently strong. One bird I observed commencing its nest 

 from the bottom, resting it on a twig having plenty of leaves. 



The Bayas are very tame, and will allow you to stand under the 

 tree whilst they are making their nests. 



42. Munia Amandava, Linn. Native name, Ltd or Lai Munia. 



This is sold here during the rainy season for about two annas each. 

 Many Rajahs keep men to teach these little creatures to fight. Their 

 note is very pretty, when caged. They pass the winter with diffi- 

 cultv, and often die of cold. The only way to preserve them is to 

 provide them with the nest of the Baya (Ploceus), into which they 

 creep and huddle together. They are very easily caught in traps in 

 which a Lai is confined. 



