28 
NATURE NOTES 
they may often be seen together in little flocks ; they fly rather 
low, and are never to be seen in the open sky. They have no 
song, but a short sharp chirrup ; they are very sociable in their 
habits with other birds and amongst themselves, and are readily 
and quickly tamed and taught tricks, very much in the same 
way as is the goldfinch with us— and who is there who does not 
appreciate this charming little bird, still fortunately to be seen 
in many a hedgerow in England? 
It is now quite time for me to deal with what have been 
happily termed the “ delicate labours of nidification.” The 
bayas build two hanging nests quite separate and distinct : one 
for the male, which is open at the base, and has a grass perch 
for him to rest upon ; the other for the female, which is cup- 
shaped at the base to form a cradle for incubation ; this cradle 
has a depth of Jthree inches, and is lined with the soft downy 
flowers of various grasses for both warmth and smoothness, and 
the eggs, which are pure white, number generally from three to 
four, the size of the egg being three-quarters of an inch in 
length, and half an inch in width. 
These hanging nests vary in length from one to two feet, 
including the neck by which they are attached, and in width 
they average at their largest diameter from six to eight inches. 
These birds never build on very high trees, and usually choose 
the extreme outer branches of acacias, palms, and such like trees, 
and often the very end shoots of the bamboo. Wherever 
