so r;ARDF-X -WD AVTARV P.TltDS. 



arc tductlH'i- that it is easy to iindri-staiid tho stat(Miioiit 

 that lias IxMMi made to th<' (dVcct that t lie cock's liavc 

 110 sonu. 'Vhw do siiii:. however. Ijut the iiiusic they 

 turn out is so excruciating that it is not a])|)reciate(l as 

 sucli. 



The iuMi weavei's only lay two or three (\u,us, while in 

 colour. Tli<^ vounu' are easily reared on .sY//oo-pa.ste, and, 

 when full-fied.ued. will eat the ordinary bird-seeds. Thus 

 treated, they become delightfully tanie. will follow one 

 about, and perch on one's head. I once lost two younu 

 birds of the Eastern species which I was rearing-, 

 thev ha villi; flown out oi the window. They were away 

 all that ni.^ht and all next day and iiiuht. But on the 

 niorninu followinLr. I was in the street just outside of the 

 compound and saw them llyin.u overhead. I called to 

 tluMu, and they came down close and allowed me to catch 

 them with very little trouble. Birds like this can easily 

 be tamed to live free about a Liardeii. though some will 

 inevitably be lost in the training, as all are not erpially 

 clever. 



Native bird-trainers [)erforni wonderful feats with 

 trained Bayas. teachiu*; them to fire a cannon, fetch and 

 carry, and so forth. The Eastern Baya, which is the oidy 

 species livin.Li near Calcutta, is only of use for trainin.n or 

 keepin<ias a pet. Tt is too dull for an aviary bird, thou.uh 

 the handsome ycHow-breasted Western Baya. is very 

 suitable for this purpose. This species is the oidy one 

 found in the Bombay market, and a o^ood many specimens 

 are bronnrht down to Calcutta from Luclcnow, but usually 

 oidv cocks. 



