Tlie Great White-headed (Bed-^nimped) Weaver. 99 



Gulls, Dunlins, Sanclerlings, Sandpipers, Curlews, etc., 

 I must leave for next instalment. 



(To be continued). 



The Great White-headed (Red-rumped) Weaver 



(DinemeUia dmemelli) . 

 By Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S. 

 A specimen of this rare species (as a living bird) was 

 exhibited by our esteemed member Mr. C. T. Maxwell at 

 various shows during the season 1910-11, where it was de- 

 scribed as the Eed-rumped Weaver, but as its original cog- 

 nomen is equally descriptive, this had better be retained, and 

 therefore must still be known as the Great White-headed 

 Weaver. 



Our esteemed member Mr. S. Williams, jun., drew this 

 bird at the L.C.B.A. exhibition, adding a few finishing touches 

 thereto at the recent L.P.O.S. show at the Crystal Palace. 

 He has kindly lent us the drawing for reproduction. Mr. 

 Willford, our esteemed Bus. Sec. and Treasurer, has kindly 

 taken a photo of the drawing, from which the block has been 

 made. 



Mr. Williams also sends me the following notes, culled 

 from the late E. Bartlet's book. 



" Text or dinemcUi or Great White-headed Weaver. This 

 " first seems to have been known about 1844-5. Gray-et- 

 " Mitchell. Gen. of Birds II. 



" Habitat: N.E. and E. Africa. Between about 12 deg. 

 " N.L., and 7.5 deg. Lat. from Shoa Tomiti to Mamboio Female- 

 " similar but not so large as the male. 



First specimen obtainied by Major Harris in Shoa, Abys- 

 " sinia, 1845. In their native haunts they feed on berries, millet 

 " and insects. It is found flying in small flocks and utters whfen 

 " on the wing a cry " Kuk Kuk," something like a Woodpecker, 

 " thei" flight is awkward and clumsy. 



" Their nests which are usually placed in the summit of 

 " thorny Acacias, consist of large untidy tufts of grass, feathers 

 " and leaves, and are entered by an opening in the lower side. 

 " Capt. Shelley writes in the " Ibis," 1885 — These birds 

 "breed "in colonies; the eggs are green, thickly speckled with 

 " dark brown, 0.95 long'." 



This species, though a handsome bird, is heavilv built 



