BAYA SPAEROW. 249 



rotten wood that can be obtained, robs the insect, and builds its 

 own nest with the spoils. The interior of the nest is lined 

 with the fine roots of plants and dry pine-leaves, which 

 latter materials affofd a softer bed than their shape seems to 

 indicate. 



As we are near the end of our list of pensile birds, we must 

 turn to Asia for a specimen as remarkable as any which has 

 yet been mentioned. This is the nest of the Bata Sparrow, 

 sometimes called the Toddt Bird, a native of several parts 

 of India, and foimd in Ceylon. 



BAYA aPARUOW. 



As may be seen by the illustration, the nests are variable in 

 shape, and hang close to each other ; indeed, the birds are very 

 sociable in all their manners, and fly about in great numbers, 

 flocks of thousands flitting among the branches and displaying 

 their pretty plumage to the sun. They have no song, and can 

 only chirp in a monotonous manner ; but the want of song finds 



