640 PYEEHULAUDA GEISEA. 



chosen by this curious little bird to build in, the following instance related by Mr. Hume is the most extra- 

 ordinary that has come under my notice. He writes (' Nests and Eggs ') : — " I may note that at Etawah we 

 found a nest of this species also amongst the ballast between the rails, so that here too " (in reference pro- 

 bably to the nest of another species) " the trains must have passed a dozen times a day and night over the 

 sitting bird. When we think of the terrible heat glowing from the bottom of. the engine and the perpetual 

 dusting-out of hot cinders, it seems marvellous how the bird could have maintained her position." 



I would suggest that in this case the bird allowed the heat of the sun to incubate the eggs by day, and 

 that she only sat at night, and being asleep was not disturbed by the trains. The average of thirty eggs is 

 0-73 by 0-55 inch. 



PASSEEES. 



Fara. PLOCEID.E. 



Bill conic, as in Fringillidse, but stouter ; the culmen widened and flattened at the base, and 

 the sides perpendicular ; tip entire. Nostrils basal, small, round, and exposed. Wings with the 

 1st primary minute. Tail of 12 feathers, rather short, rounded or pointed in some. Legs and 

 feet stouter than in the Fringillidee ; tarsus covered in front with broad scales. 



Genus PLOCEUS. 

 Bill large ; the culmen curved from the base and flattened, the sides tumid and overhanging 

 the margin of the under mandible. Nostrils circular and basal, gonys straight. Wings moderate, 

 the 1st quill exceeding the primary-coverts ; the 3rd and 4th the longest, and the 2nd shorter 

 than the 5th. Tail moderately short, rounded at the tip. Legs and feet stout ; tarsus scaled, 

 longer than the middle toe, outer toe slightly exceeding the inner ; claws rather long ; hallux 

 stout. 



