PIPEISOMA AGILE. 
581 
he writes, “I should term a 'shriir instead of a ‘weak" piping, which can he heard at some distance, long 
before the bird itself is visible."’ 
Nidification . — The present species breeds in India from the middle of February till the end of May, 
commencing, according to Mr. Hume, earlier in the plains than in the Himalayas. I imagine that in Ceylon 
it lays during the first three or four months in the year ; but I have no certain data, beyond the fact of 
Mr. Parker shooting an immature specimen in June, and my own observations as to the old birds moulting 
in August. Its nest was beautifully figured in ‘ The Ibis " for 18G7, together with the young birds, by Mr. WolL 
from specimens sent home by Captain Beavan. This naturalist writes (‘ Ibis," 1865) as follows “ The nest is 
very peculiar — a pocket-like structure suspended from a small bough which forms the roof, the entrance being 
from one side near the top. It is composed entirely of spiders" web and other silks, with which a pinkish- 
brown fluff (probably from some tree in flower) is felted together, making the nest look entirely of that colour. 
There is no lining ; only the material employed is denser at the bottom than at the top of the nest. The great 
peculiarity is that the nest is as if woven in one piece, and, like a bit of cloth, can be shaken and compressed 
without doing it any injury. The length is 3 inches, breadth 2 inches ; entrance-hole 1-5 inch long by 0-87 
inch broad. The eggs are moderately elongated, of a light pink ground-colour, blotched indistinctly with 
pink spots, more frequent and massed at the obtuse end ; they are large for the size of the bird, their length 
being 0'62 inch, and their breadth a little over 0'37 inch.” 
Mr. R. Thompson likewise wwites to Mr. Hume “ I obtained a nest of this bird at Ramnuggur, on the 
borders of the sub-Himalayan range, on the 12th May, which contained two eggs of a fleshy-white colour, 
thickly blotched with pinkish spots. The nest was a neat structure, pendent from a thin branch of a small 
leafless tree ; it was entirely composed of the pubescent covering of the skins of a species of Loranthus, which 
the birds had scraped off, and, mixing with spiders" webs, had woven into a thin felt. The shape of the nest is 
that of a purse opening down the side."" While taking another nest, he remarks that the old birds hovered about, 
and more than once perched close to his head. Writing from Modahpore, in March, he informs Mr. Hume 
that he “ saw a couple fixing the foundation of their nest with cobwebs and the pubescent downy covering of 
the young shoots of Bidea frondosa, which the birds bit off in small pieces and mixed with cobwebs, both birds 
at work alternating the time of arrival and departure with material.” 
From the above remarks it will be seen that this Flow'erpecker constructs one of the most wonderful little 
nests known] indeed the editor of ‘The Ibis’ remarks that the one sent by Capt. Beavan was one of the most 
beautiful structures he had ever seen. Mr. Hume says two or three eggs are laid each time, and that he is 
inclined to believe that the birds have two broods at least in the year. The ground-colour varies from “ rosy 
white to a decided pink, and the markings from brownish pink to claret-colour.” They average in size 0-63 
by 0’41 inch. 
