to the nesting site, uttering cries of delight.  The fibres obtained in this manner are bound round the branch from which the nest will hang.  More strands are added to form a stalk; when this has attained a length of several inches it is gradually expanded in the form of an umbrella or bell.  The next step is to weave a band of grass across the mouth of the bell.  In this condition the nest is often left unfinished.  Indians call such incomplete nests jhulas or swings; they assert that these are made in order that the cocks may sit in them and sing to their mates while these are incubating the eggs.  It may be, as “Eha” suggests, that at this stage the birds are dissatisfied with the balance of the nest and for this reason leave it.  If the nest, at this point of its construction, please the weaver-birds they proceed to finish it by closing up the bell at one side of the cross-band to form a receptacle for the eggs, and prolonging the other half of the bell into a long tunnel or neck.  This neck forms the entrance to the nest; towards its extremity it becomes very flimsy so that it affords no foothold to an enemy.  Nearly every baya’s nest contains some lumps of clay attached to it.  Jerdon was of opinion that the function of these is to balance the nest properly.  Indians state that the bird sticks fireflies into the lumps of clay to light up the nest at night.  This story has found its way into some ornithological text-books.  There is no truth in it.  The present writer is inclined to think that the object of these lumps of clay is to prevent the light loofah-like nest swinging too violently in a gale of wind.

Both sexes take part in nest-construction.  After the formation of the cross-bar at the mouth of the bell one of the birds sits inside and the other outside, and they pass the strands to each other and thus the weaving proceeds rapidly.  While working at the nest the bayas, more especially the cocks, are in a most excited state.  They sing, scream, flap their wings and snap the bill.  Sometimes one cock in his excitement attacks a neighbour by jumping on his back!  This results in a fight in which the birds flutter in the air, pecking at one another.  Often the combatants “close” for a few seconds, but neither bird seems to get hurt in these little contests.

Every bird-lover should make a point of watching a company of weaver-birds while these are constructing their nests.  The tree or trees in which they build can easily be located by sending a servant in July to search for them.  The favourite sites for nests in the United Provinces seem to be babul trees that grow near borrow pits alongside the railroad.

In the rainy season two other birds weave nests, which are nearly as elegant as those woven by the baya.  These birds, however, do not nest in company.  They usually build inside bushes, or in long grass.

For this reason they do not lend themselves to observation while at work so readily as bayas do.  The birds in question are the Indian and the ashy wren-warbler.