THE ^VEA^•ER HIRDS. . 239 



TIIE PLOCEUS CRISTATUS. 



The MaHmbic Trtwaf/t?;*, as this bird is called by Latham, inhabits Maliniba, a country on 

 the eastern coast of Africa, in the kingdom of Congo, where it was first observed by 

 Porrein. These birds usually sojouni on trees bearing figs, whicli exactl}' resemble those 

 of J-'.urope, and place their nests on such of the branches as form a triangle. Tlie nest is 

 of a round form, with the aperture worked on the side ; the exterior is composed of fine 

 plants, arranged ingeniously, and the interior is furnished with cotton. The eggs are 

 from throe to five, of a grayish colour, and the male and female j^artako of the incuba- 

 tion. It is in the months of October and November that these birds arc found in 

 Malimba ; the}' remain on the fig-trees only while they are laden with fruit ; and when 

 that disappears, the birds are gone, and do not return imtil the following year. 



THE liLACK-COLLARED FINCH. 



This bird exhibits wonderful industry in the making of its nest, and great foresight in 

 protecting its j'oung from rain, and from the attaclcs of little animals. The form of its 

 abode is pjTamidal. It is alwaj-s suspended above the water, and at the extremity of a 

 little branch. The aperture is on one of the faces of the 23}'ramid, and usuallj^ turned 

 towards the east. The cavity of this pyramid is separated into two parts by a partition, 

 thus forming, as it wei-e, two chambers. The first, in which is the entrance to the nest, 

 is a sort of vestibide, where the bird-.first introduces itself; then he climbs up tlie inter- 

 mediate partition, and descends to the bottom of the second chamber, where the eggs are 

 deposited. This species is a native of Senegal and Abyssinia. 



THE YELLOW- CROWNED ^\'E.\'\'ER. * 



A native cf South Africa, this bird constructs an isolated, jiensile, kidnej'-shajied 

 nest, about seven inches long by four and a half broad, with an opening in the 

 sides. 



THE CRIMSON-CRO^VNED WEA^•ER.t 



This bird has the ears and sides of the head crimson, the chin and body beneath black, 

 the crown red, the wings and tail blackish. It is said to be a native of Senegal. 



THE YELLOW- BODIED A\'EAVER. J 



The last "Weaver we shall mention is above dark brown ; beneath it is a bright yellow ; 

 the chin is whitish ; the legs are pale. " There are certain characters in this AVeaver," 

 savs an eminent naturalist, " which separates it so much from any of its congeners, 

 that we cannot for the present associate it with any of the genera contained in the 

 circle. These characters certainly show a great departure from those which belong 

 more or less to the others ; yet, as its whole appearance is that of a Ploceus, we place it 

 as the aberrant type, believing that its natural station is between F/oceu-s and E.sfrelda. 

 It is distinguished from all othprs, by having the spurious quill half as long as the 

 second, which, with the third, is graduated ; so that the fourth and fifth quills are 

 longest ; the bill, moreover, is considerably compressed, and its commissure in nowise 

 sinuated ; lasth^ the inner toe is shorter than the outer one. These characters are all 

 of a positive nature, and with the above considerations, leads to the belief that this is the 

 aberrant type of the circle of the weavers." 



* Ploceus Icterocephalus. t Euplcctcs Flammiceps. % Symplectes CTuysomus.— Swain. 



