>A 



S ^he IHest of tbc 1Rc&*biHcD Mcaver, 



fQicelea quelea). 

 By W. Geo. Creswetx, M.D., F.Z.S., etc. 



THIS member of the Ploceidae, with no song 

 except a few harsh noises, and undistinguished 

 by any extraordinary brilliancy of plumage 

 even when in colour, is nevertheless one of 

 the most interesting of aviary inhabitants, afford- 

 ing constant opportunity during the summer months 

 for admiration and wonderment — admiration for 

 the marvellous cleverness evinced by the male 

 bird in the art of nest building, and wonderment, no 

 less at the mysterious workings of his little mind 

 which prompt him to the exercise of so much fruitless 

 industry, than at the topsy-turvydom which makes 

 him the builder and his wife only a looker on of the 

 most casual and "so-so" variety. 



Like all other great geniuses our friend wants but 

 little in the way of plant ; a forked stick or a couple 

 of dependent millet stalks amply suffice for a site: 

 indeed I have seen him on one occasion quite satisfied 

 with only one of the latter, as will be seen on 

 reference to the photograph. As regards materials — 

 give him a hayband and he is more than content. 

 With these simple resources at his command he will 

 i^o on all the summer buildinsr nest after nest, to all 



