100 The Great While-headei (ned-ridnped) Weaver. 



and of large size, being about the size of the Hawfinch, but 

 with a less formidable beak. It is an easily described l)ird, 

 the upper parts being brown, excepting the head, neck, and 

 rump, the two former being white, and the latter red; the 

 undcrparts are white, tinged with dusky h^ere and there. It 

 has quite a formidable appearance and should be introduced 

 among smaller birds with caution. It appeared, apart from 

 its rarity, rather uninteresting in a cage, appearing to be dull 

 and listless in denieuuoui-, but the limits of a show-cage make 

 it difficult to form an opinion. 



A true pair, in a roomy, natural aviary, would d(jnbt- 

 less make u tine show ; their contrasty plumage would cer- 

 tainly make them conspicuous, and under such conditions their 

 robust form would be merged in the general proportion of 

 things. I have generally noticed this with other similar 

 species, that a bird wdiicli appears robustly formed, almost to 

 ugliness, in a cage, appears exactly the reverse when it is 

 seen, under the conditions of aviary life. Many of its near 

 relatives are certainly more gorgeously apparalled and of more 

 elegant form, yet this species in the garden aviary, enjoying 

 semi-freedom, disporting itself amid the living greenery, would 

 I opine be a sight to enthuse over. At any rate, I hope 

 the opportunity of sucli an experience comes my way. 



In response to my enquiry, Mr. C. T. Maxwell kindly 

 sends me the following notes, which, however, did not arrive 

 till after the above was passed to printer. 



" I am very glad you are giving an illustration of my 

 " Red-rumpcd Weaver, in this month's Magazine, yet I am quite 

 " at a loss to know what to say about it, excepting that so 

 " far as I can gatlier, it was the only ono to roach the Lon- 

 ■' dou dealers out of a number that came int43 the hands of a 

 " continental lirm last summer. I disposed of tiiis bird some 

 " little time since to a fellow member whom I am pleased to 

 " say occasionally exhibits at our shows, so doubtless the bird 

 " will be heard of again on the show-beiicli, W'here it w[as so 

 " successful last season. 



" While in my possession, I fed it on canary seed, iusectile 

 " mixture, and a few me^alworms daily. It had a ^hort loud 

 '■■ and ratlier curious kind of song. 



"I had but little opportunity of studying its habits as 

 " I only kept it in a small cage— it I'oaily looked too formid- 

 " able a bird to put with anything smaller than itself in a limited 

 '"space, and my room is very lira '-tod." 



