348 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



to the touch-hole. All this we have personally witnessed in 

 common with most persons who have resided in or even visited 

 India; and we have seen the little bird apply the match five or 

 six times successively before the powder ignited, which it finally 

 did with a report loud enough to alarm all the crows in the 

 neighbourhood, while the little Baya remained perched on the 

 gun, apparently quite elated with its performance." Captain 

 Tytler mentions also "the twirling of a stick with a ball of fire 

 at each end. This the bird turns in several ways round its head, 

 making luminous circlets in imitation of a native practice ; the 

 stick being held by the beak in the middle." 



In an ordinary cage or aviary, they will employ themselves 

 constantly, if allowed the chance, in intertwining thread or fibres 

 with the wires of their prison, merely gratifying the constructive 

 propensity, with apparently no further object; unless, indeed, the 

 sexes are matched, -when they breed very readily in captivity ; of 

 course, provided they are allowed sufficient room, as in a spacious 

 aviary. 



This bird has currently passed as P. philippinus, Auct., but on 

 a reference to the figure in the PI. Enl. of Buffon, the type of 

 that species, I am convinced that it refers to the species named 

 hypoxantha by Daudin. 



695. Ploceus manyar, Horsfield. 



Fringilla, apud Horsfield— BLYTH,Cat. 615— HoRSF.,Cat. 783 

 — Jerdon, 2nd Suppl. Cat. 170 — Euplectes flaviceps, Swainson 

 — E. striatus, Blyth, — E. bengalensis, Jerdon, Cat. 170 — 

 Bamani baya, H. in the Deccan — Telia baya, Beng. — Batooyi, in 

 Rungpore. 



The Striated Weaver-bird. 

 Descr.— The male in full breeding dress has the crown of the 

 head intense yellow; lores, cheeks, ear-coverts, chin, throat, 

 and neck, brownish black; back, wings, and tail, brown; the 

 feathers of the back with a mesial dark streak, those of the pri- 

 maries and tail edged with yellowish; rump streaked like the 

 back; upper tail-coverts rufescent; beneath, from the throat 



