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Show 1869.] MR. C. HORNE ON PLOCEUS BAYA. 243 orifice with her own ordure. This she must have brought up from the bottom of the hole; and she plastered it right and left with the flat sides of her beak, as with a trowel. I never saw the male bring anything but food; and I never found any fruit which had been rejected under the tree, and but very little ordure, which latter had apparently been thrown out by the female when the closing-work was finished. The male bird would alight near, then fly to the hole, holding on to the bark by his claws, and knock with his beak. On this the points of that of the female appeared and received the fruit, when the male flew off. I herewith beg to submit some of the substance with which the hole was closed up, which is manifestly what I suppose it to be, and when fresh, possesses great viscidity. It contains the remains of insects, which probably the female had eaten before she entered the hole-thus confirming Dr. Jerdon's statement as to their various diet. The hole was at first perhaps 6 inches in height, and 3 or 4 wide. When closed up, the opening at the widest part was a little larger than would admit the finger. It should, however, be borne in mind that the bill opened upwards, and thus had 3 or 4 inches play. The plastering-operation took two or three days, after which the ordure was thrown out. The third Hornbill used to hover about, watch proceedings, and sometimes quarrel with the accepted lord, but he never brought food to the female. On M a y 7, thinking that I had given time enough for the female to lay her three eggs, which I wanted, I got a ladder, opened out the nest, and with some difficulty got out the bird, who was fat and in good condition, with the desired eggs (three). At first she could scarcely fly, but did so after a little time. The natives, who know the habits of these birds well, told me that the female digs herself out directly her newly hatched young need food; and this is most probably correct. 7. Notes on Ploceus bay a and its Nest. B y C. H O R N E , F.Z.S. (Plate XVII.) In submitting these notes upon Ploceus baya I do not suppose that I am narrating anything not previously observed, although I have never met with any account of the method in which this ingenious bird obtains its material. I cannot solve the mystery of the lumps of clay found in the nests, although I have examined many at all seasons for the purpose. I may remark, however, that I have seldom, if ever, found a finished nest without them. |