294	SYLYITD2E.
sugarcane or corn they were built in. In addition to the above I
found numerous other nests all through August, many of which
were destroyed by something or other — what, I do not know ! In
fact, it has always been a puzzle to me what it is that takes
1he eggs of these small birds : three out of four nests, when
visited a second time, are either empty, gone altogether, or pulled
down ; and how the birds ever manage to hatch off a brood at all
with so many enemies I do not know.
" I found a nest of the Ashy Wren-Warbler at Dees a on the
21st July, containing three fresh eggs, of a highly polished deep
mahogany-red colour, with an almost invisible cap of the same
colour a shade darker at the large end. The nest, which was
placed in the centre of a low bush and fixed to a few small twigs,
was oval in shape, measuring 3| inches in length exteriorly and
2f in width, with a small round entrance near the top about
1-5 inch in diameter. It was composed of fine dry fibrous grass,
with silky vegetable down (Calotropis c/u/antea) and cobwebs
smeared over the exterior. The walls were very thin, but the
bottom of the nest somewhat solid. The whole well woven and
compactly built. Later on I got nests on the following dates : —
" Aug.   1.    A nest containing 3 fresh eggs.
95	•*-•	•)•>	15	'      —	15
55	5.	55	55	^	75
55    26.	„	„        3         „
" In addition to the above, I found nests containing young birds
on the 15th, 17th, and 23rd August,
" The nests are of two distinct types. One as above described ;
the other, which is the commoner of the two, a regular Tailor-bird's
nest stitched between two leaves but without any lining. The eggs
vary a good deal in shade, some being paler than others. Some
eggs I have look almost like little balls of red camel ian. Creepers
(convolvulus &c.) growing up low thorny bushes in grass-beerhs
are a favourite place for the nest."
Lieut. H. E. Barnes informs us that in Eajputana this Warbler
breeds from July to September.
Messrs. Davidson and Wenden state that this bird is common
in the Deceau and breeds in August.
Mr. Rhodes W. Morgan, writing from South India, says: — " It-
builds in March, constructing a very neat pendent nest, which is
artfully concealed, and supported by sewing one or two leaves
round it. This is very neatly done with the fine silk which sur-
rounds the eggs of a small brown spider. The nest is generally
built of fine grass, and contains three eggs of a bright brick-colour
with a high polish. The entrance to the nest is at the top and a
little on one side. An egg measured 0'7 inch in length by 0*48 in
breadth."
As for the eggs, it is unnecessary to describe them : they are
precisely similar to those of P. stewarti, fully described below. All