“July 13.  A nest containing 4 fresh eggs.
" 22. "   "      "      3      "
" 25. "   "      "      4      "
" 26. "   "      "      3      "
" 26. "   "      "      3      "
" 28. "   "      "      2 slightly incubated eggs. 
Aug.   5. "   "      "      4 fresh eggs.
"  6. "   "      "      4      "

“All of the above nests were built in sugarcane-fields or in corn-fields; and most of them were stitched up in leaves of various plants after the fashion of Tailor-birds’ nests; but in some instances they were of the other type, simply supported by the blades of sugar-cane 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 the 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 Deesa 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 33/4 inches in length exteriorly and 2-5/8 in width, with a small round entrance near the top about 11/4 inch in diameter.  It was composed of fine dry fibrous grass, with silky vegetable down (Calotropis giganten) 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.
"   1.     "       "     2      "
"   5.     "       "     4      "
"   5.     "       "     4      "
"   8.     "       "     3      "
"   9.     "       "     4      "
"  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 carnelian.  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 Rajputana this Warbler breeds from July to September.

Messrs. Davidson and Wenden state that this bird is common in the Deccan 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 surrounds 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.”