Weavers. 269 



shape to those of the other Hyphaniormnes, but have a longer 

 entrance funnel. This is not wide enough to admit of the en- 

 trance of two fing'ers. The egg's, two in number, are white. 

 Young birds were successfully reared here in 1914 (see B.N. vol. 

 V, N.S.). 



The Bav.\ Weaver (PIoccus baya) belongs to another 

 group, and my experience with them is extremely limited. My 

 cock. I have no hens, built himself a tent-like shelter in a faggot 

 pile early in the year, in which it spent the night, but made no 

 attempt at nest-building until the end of wSeptember. He then 

 took possession of a derelict Abyssinian Weaver's nest that was 

 hanging from the wire netting by a thread. Attaching blades 

 of grass to the foiu^ corners he carefully fastened them to the 

 wire netting and then wove a very strong, but somewhat shape- 

 less nest, leaving the original entrance for the Abyssinian. He 

 arranged two openings on the other side. For what purpose 

 these were required I don't quite know — unless it was to allow 

 him to escape more easily in case of attack by the larger and 

 stronger bird. As far as my observation goes both birds occupy 

 their own quarters quite peacefully every night. No account of 

 the breeding of this species in captivity has, I believe, been pub- 

 lished, but one of the large London dealers was advertising 

 this autumn young ones said to have been bred by a gentleman 

 at Bayswater. The principal difficulty in doing so would be, I 

 think, that of securing breeding hens. 



The Red-headed Weaver (Qucica erythrocephala) is a 

 rather uncommon bird, about the size of the Red-billed Weaver, 

 the males having a bright red head. This species has made no 

 males having a bright red head. This species has made no 

 attempt to nest with me. Although I have had a cock and two 

 hens for some years, I have never seen them carrying nesting 

 material. They are not a very attractive species. 



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