THE FINCHES. 79 



the spout or tube. These nests cannot very well be 

 concealed, and the birds do not try to hide them. They 

 always build in company, and the nests are hung at the 

 tips of branches or palm-fronds, usually over water. 

 The Eastern species often builds in verandahs, so that 

 the birds' method of working can be watched. Both 

 sexes take their share, working together till the suspension 

 rope and upper portion of the bulb are finished ; then they 

 make a perch or cord across the unfinished bulb, which 

 perch will be deepened to form the partition wall of the 

 perfect nest. On this perch, which is strongly made, the 

 hen then sits, and works on the inside, while the cock 

 attends to the exterior. In a colony many nests are 

 found which do not get further than this stage and as 

 captive males in an aviary seem not to be able to complete 

 a nest, it seems probable that such imperfect nests are 

 the result of the efforts of the male portion of the colony 

 while their mates are sitting. Sometimes they will while 

 away the time by lengthening the entrance-spout, for 

 weaving is a pleasure to these birds, and they really enjoy 

 the work. The nests vary in length of spout and of 

 attachment rope, and usually contain some lumps of mud, 

 the use of which has not yet been made out, but the most 

 reasonable theory seems to be that it serves as ballast. 

 The birds return to the same spot year after year, and 

 repair their old nests if they find them. Many, however, 

 are taken away by the natives, who find them very good 

 stuffing for mattresses, as they are very springy, being 

 so well woven and dried. Weavers are very noisy and 

 quarrelsome birds, and make such a noise when a number 



