2U The Rufous-hellied Niltavay. 
black stems and roots of maidenhair fern: it was built in a 
hollow on the face of a bank overgrown by maidenhair, and 
the bank was itself sheltered by thick overhanging liough.s. 
It i:; worthy of note that this type of moss and fern- 
stem nest seems fairly constant, as it has been descrii>ed by 
many observers. 
The measurements of seven of the above eggs yield 
the following results: Length 20.9—21.6 mm.; breadth 16.1 
— 16.6 m.m.; average measurement 21.2 x 16.3 mm. 
The egg is rather reminiscent of that of the English 
Robin. It is pale reddish buff, very faintly freckled, and 
mottled throughout with a sort of dingy pink which is most 
apparent towards the large end. 
Some newly -fledged young liirds seen in company 
with their parents were speckled in plumage and very similar 
in appearance (at a short distance) to young Robins. 
These Niltavas do not appear to be migratory; for 
although I have collected for two winters at the base of the 
hills I have not met with a single specimen, in places where 
many stragglers from the mountains are to l)e met from 
December to March. 
^ 
My Weavers and Whydahs. 
By Sidney Williams, F.Z.S. 
(Continued from page 148). 
Another thing which may also help the colour to be- 
come richer is a plentiful supply of greenfood: lettuce, chick- 
weed, dandelion and groundsel I give freely; also any kind 
of flowering grass. It is quite astonishing how much these 
birds can eat. 
My staple food consists of canary, white and Indian 
millet seeds, and whole groats. I also give them about a 
handful of the following mixture: hemp, niger, linseed, and 
teasel, which does not average much per bii'd, when ther'> 
are forty birds in the aviary. 
Some are very keen on breeding birds which iiave 
never reproduced their kind, in captivity, in England before 
