The Endurance of Birds. 177 



The Endurance of Birds. 



Bv Weslkv T. Page, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. etc. 



(Continued from page ifjp). 



Weavers. — Times have altered so far as these interesting 

 and obstreperous l)irds are concerned. A few years ago one 

 wrote " very seklom bred in captivity," but later experience has 

 shown that in roomy and natural garden aviaries some of them 

 breed fairly freely. Perhaps the great difficulty with this 

 group is the securing of true pairs, and even if one gets u 

 promiscuous lot, the hens of some of the species differ so little 

 from each other that, apart from comparing them with properlv 

 named skins, sortation is very difficult. Of a good many of the 

 species I have only possessed males, and, where other species 

 of females have been present no attempt has been made at 

 mating. I have only bred two species, viz : the Red-billed 

 and the Napoleon — of the latter species the only one I now 

 possess is a fine male in full colour, which was reared about 

 six years ago in my aviary at Mitcham. I do not know of any 

 successful breeding record in an entirely artificial aviary (I am 

 only writing of Great Britain), i.e., one which contained no 

 living trees or bushes. 



For the purposes of this series I need only deal with the 

 species which ha\e successfully bred with me, as a tabulated list 

 was given in the first instalment some two years ago, as to 

 hardiness, etc. — So the simplest and most practical method will 

 be to relate the details, so far as I have them recorded, of my 

 successes with the Red-billed and Napoleon Weavers, the 

 former of which may be described as a fairly free breeder, and 

 the latter as a casual breeder. 



The Red-1'.illed W'eaver (Quclea quelea). This in 

 normal times freely imported species is very largely kept, and 

 one is rather surprised that the instances of success have not 

 been even more mmierous. The nest has always been of 

 slightly elongated spherical form, and consisting of only a 

 single chamber; usually compactly woven, so nmch so that only 

 in one instance was I able to see the eggs through the structure. 

 The entrance hole is so small that the adult birds have to 

 literally push their way in, and when the time has come for the 



