PLOCETTS MANYAB. 649 



diameter of 5 inches one way by 4 the other. The tube is from 2 to 5 inches in length, and about 2\ inches 

 in external diameter; the upper portion of the nest may be about lj inch thick, but the sides average about 

 half an inch, and the entrance-passage is scarcely a quarter of an inch thick. What gives the nest a clumsy 

 appearance is that its upper end terminates squarely, instead of tapering more or less to a point, as is the case 

 with those of P. philippinus ; but then the nests of these latter are hung from a point of support." The eggs 

 are usually two or three in number, and are slightly smaller than those of the last species. They are " mode- 

 rately broad ovals, a good deal pointed towards one end, and of a perfectly pure glossless white/' The average 

 size of the eggs is - 8 by 058 inch. 



The colony I met with near the Wallaway river, and which, I presume, was one of this species, were 

 nesting in the reeds ; the nests corresponded to the above description, and many of them had pieces of clay 

 attached to them. What could this have been for, except to add weight, and thus prevent the swinging to and 

 fro of the nests ? 



Genus MTJNIA*. 



Bill much as in Ploceus, but more inflated between the nostrils and the margin, which is 

 festooned ; gape much angulated ; culmen running back on the forehead in a point. Wings with 

 the 1st quill very minute, the next three nearly equal in length, but variable, the 2nd of them 

 usually the longest. Tail rather short, cuneate. Tarsus stout, scarcely exceeding the middle 

 toe without its claw ; middle toe much longer than the lateral ones, which are subequal, the 

 outer being slightly the longer. 



Of small size and gregarious habit ; often building in company like the Weaver-birds. 



* It will seem strange to many of my Ceylon readers to remove these little birds from among the Finches, with 

 which one is always inclined to associate them ; but, in addition to their possessing a minute or rudimentary first primary, 

 they are, in other respects, more like the " Weavers " than the true Finches, to the former of which they assimilate in 

 outline and structure of bill, and in the short tail and legs ; and, furthermore, they are highly gregarious and often nest 

 in company : to the latter they merely bear a superficial resemblance in the matter of their conical bill and small size. 



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