344 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



upper tail-coverts pale rufous brown ; primaries with a narrow 

 edging of pale yellow ; lores, ear-coverts, chin, and throat, 

 blackish brown ; breast bright yellow ; belly and lower tail-coverts 

 dull white ; the flanks and under wing-coverts and thigh-coverts pale 

 rusty or buff. 



Bill black ; irides dusky brown ; legs brownish fleshy. 



Younger males in the breeding plumage have the breast pale 

 rusty instead of yellow, and the yellow edging of the intersca- 

 pulars is wanting. The females, and males in winter dress, totally 

 want the yellow head, the crown being brown with dark streaks, 

 have pale rufous supercilia, and the chin and throat are whitish. 



Bill pale horny brown ; Length about 6 inches ; extent 9^ ; 

 wing 2 T 8 y ; tail not quite 2 ; bill at front -$ ; tarsas T 8 ^ ; spread 

 of foot If. 



The common Weaver-bird is found throughout the whole of 

 India from Cape Comorin and Ceylon to the foot of the Himalayas, 

 and extending into Assam, Burmah, and Malayana. It is most 

 abundant in the well wooded parts of the country, and in the 

 bare table land of the Deccan you may travel for days without 

 seeing one. It appears to wander about in some localities, for 

 some observers have stated that it is migratory, but it is certainly 

 a permanent resident in most parts of the country ; and their 

 roosting places on certain trees are well known. Grain of all 

 kinds, especially rice and various grass seeds, form the chief 

 food of the Weaver-bird, and I never observed it feeding on 

 fruit, as Sykes asserts he has known it do on the fig of the 

 Banian tree. Whilst feeding, particularly, as well as at othar 

 times, the whole flock keeps up a perpetual chirruping. I have 

 seen it feeding in grain fields in company with flocks of Emberlza 

 melanocephala ; and Sykes relates that he has seen it associate with 

 the common Sparrow. 



The Baya breeds during the rains, according to the locality, 

 from April to September, but I am not aware if they ever 

 have more than one brood. Its long retort-shaped nest is familiar 

 to all, and it is indeed a marvel of skill, as elegant in its form, as 

 substantial in its structure, and weather-proof against the down- 

 pour of a Malabar or Burmese Monsoon. 



