PLOCEIN^E. 343 



Horsfield classes the Weaver-birds among his Fringillince, and 

 Swainson in his Coccoihranstincs ; but these differ, as already 

 stated, in wanting the first small primary. 



There is only one genus of this sub-family in India. 



Gen. Ploceus, Cuvier. 



Syn. Euplectes, Swainson (in part.) 



Char. — Bill thick at the base, laterally compressed, pointed 

 at the tip ; culm en smooth, broad, rounded, and produced 

 backwards on the forehead to a point ; commissure nearly straight ; 

 nostrils basal, partly concealed ; wings moderate or somewhat short, 

 with the first quill small, about one third of the next four or five, 

 2nd a little shorter than 3rd, which is usually longest ; tail short 

 even, or very slightly rounded ; feet large, hind toe and claw 

 strong, all the claws lengthened. 



This germs comprises the four Indian species, and many African. 

 In all the Indian birds the crown of the head, in the males, becomes 

 bright yellow in the breeding season. In winter the sexes are 

 alike, or nearly so. All build nests of strips of leaves or grass 

 interwoven together, from June to August, and have pure white, 

 rather long-shaped eggs. 



Of three Indian species found within our limits, one is widely 

 diffused, and the other two are more locally distributed. They 

 are often called Tailor-birds in India. 



694. Ploceus baya, Blyth. 



J. A. S. XIII. 945— Horsf., Cat. 785— P. Philippinus, apud 

 Sykes, Cat. 106— Jerdon, Cat. 169— Blyth, Cat. 614 — P. atri- 

 gula and passerinus, Hodgson (m. and f.) — Fring. bengalensis, 

 Sundevall — Baya, H. — Chindora, H. in Bengal — Bawi, or Tal- 

 babi, Beng. — Parsupu-pitta, Tel. — Manja-kuravi, Tarn. 



The Common Weaver-bird. 



Descr. — Old males, in breeding plumage, have the crown of 

 the head bright yellow, the rest of the upper plumage with the 

 wings and tail, dull brown, edged with pale fulvous brown, some of 

 the feathers in the middle of the back edged yellow ; rump and 



