74 



WEAVER PLAYFELLOWS. 



Sir, — I have two Weavers, an Orange and a 

 Napoleon respectively, v^'lio are ver}' good friends. 

 They play " follow ni}' leader," the Orange taking the 

 lead and the Napoleon flying or hopping after him. 

 Then if the Orange stops for a few minutes the Napoleon 

 sidles up to him and peers at him, as much as to say 

 "Ar'n't you going to play any more ? " The}^ are both 

 cocks, and although there are several other Weavers in 

 the same aviary they are quite content with each other's 

 company. 



I have not found Weavers pugnacious towards each 

 other, but they often turn round and snap at smaller 

 birds when within reach of them. A Micmbkr. 



A SHAMAH CONCERT. 



Sir, — One cannot describe the effect of from i8 to 

 24 cock Shamahs all singing at the same time, but it has 

 been my luck to experience this lateh\ I have still 

 some ten males and a few females. The hens also 

 sing a little, but their song is short. The dingy plumage 

 of the female contrasts strongly wdth the neat brown 

 body and rich jet black head and tail of the cocks — but 

 the}^ have quite as much go in them as the cocks, and 

 it is not safe to keep even two hens together. Neither is 

 it safe to keep a cock and hen together in a limited space, 

 as they will often go for one another — but with plenty of 

 room they soon establish amicable relations. No wonder 

 that in India the natives keep Shamahs for fighting, 

 as our forefathers did game cocks. 



lean sit for hours and enjoy the song of a vShamah, 

 he is a true songster, with plenty of music in him and 

 variety without end. For a pet one could not have a more 

 lovable bird — at one time bold and defiant, at others as 

 docile as a lamb. He so6n gets used to coming out of his 

 cage and going back at will. Many a time I have seen 

 one of mine catch a mealworm thrown to him while flying. 

 I have kept Shamahs now for 15 years and should not like 

 to be without one. W. Osbai^deston. 



