198 llic Indian Jf'caz'cr Bird and Some Others. 



as the pliolo,i^rai)li sliows. Tins nest measures 23 iiiclies lowj; 

 l)y 22 inches in circimiference at the hottom. a i"eniarkal)le effort 

 for so sniah a hird. The nestinj^' chamher is not completed, as 

 with this species this work is, I beh'eve, done l>y the hen only, 

 'llie bar across the inside of the bottom of the nest, to which the 

 egg" chamber should be attached, is used as a perch on which he 

 roosts at night. It is absolutely wind and water tight, so that 

 he has very comfortable night quarters, even in the worst of 

 w'eather. It is to be hoped that there will be a few hens in the 

 next lot of these birds that come over, as they would be inter- 

 esting birds to try and breed. 



Other Weavers that have nested in these aviaries are the 

 Olivaceous, the Rufous-necked and the Abyssinian; all three 

 , rjuite large birds ; the Black-headed and Half-masked, about 

 '0 size of the Baya ; the Napoleon, Taha, Orange. Red-billed 

 and Dwarf. The three first build retort-shaped nests, about 

 7 or 8 inches long, and usually suspended from the wire roof of 

 the aviary. The entrance to the nest is generally lengthened 

 a couple of inches, once incubation is commenced. The rare 

 Olivaceous Weaver was the neatest builder of the three. He 

 reared two hybrids from a small weaver hen. Young were 

 also partially reared by the Abyssinians, but the Rufous-necked 

 never got as far as eggs with me. The Black-headed and Half- 

 masked have also nested here several times, although the young- 

 have never been fully reared. Their nests are just like the 

 others but smaller. They are frequently suspended from 

 growing shrubs, and in this case the shape is sometimes altered 

 to suit the varying conditions. The I'aha, Xapoleon, and 

 Orange Weavers build very flimsy spherical nests in bushes or 

 reeds. The entrance hole is usually on the side. I have known 

 Orange Weavers' nests so frail that their pretty blue eggs have 

 dropped through to the ground. A number of young Taha 

 and Napoleon Weavers have been bred here. The Red-billed 

 Weaver, on the contrary, has never bred here. Many nests 

 are built every year, and during the season much chattering and 

 noise takes place, but no eggs are laid. For a good many 

 years now I have always had a few of these birds, but until last 

 week I did not know that they ever varied in colour, but. when 



