PLOCEUS MANTAE. 
649 
diameter of 5 incEes one way by 4 the other. The tube is from 3 to 5 inches in length, and about 2^ inches 
in external diameter j the upper portion of the nest may he about Ij inch thick, hut 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 ; hut 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 0’8 by 0'58 inch. 
The colony I met with near the Wallaway river, and which, I presume, was one of this species, were 
nesting in the reeds j 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 MUNIA*. 
Bill much as in Ploceus, but more inflated between the nostrils and the margin, which is 
festooned ; gape much angulated ; culmen running hack 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 rudimentaiy first primary, 
they are, in other respects, more hke the “ Weavers” than the true Finches, to the former of which they assimilate m 
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. 
