The Indian Weaver Bird and Some Others. 199 



walking- through one of the West End bird stores, I noticed 

 a httle black bird with a rich Yellow-bill, in with a hen Red- 

 billed. On further exploring I discovered three more, all of 

 which I now have. One is all black except for a little buff on 

 abdomen; another black with a few chocolate marks on breast 

 and abdomen ; the third is dark chocolate with a black head, and 

 the fourth is dark brown with a chocolate head. Three have 

 bright yellow beaks, and the other coral red. By the way 

 .why are these birds called Red-billed Weavers when so many of 

 them have yellow beaks ? Their nest is something like a cup 

 lying on its side, the entrance hole being large for the size of 

 the nest. The young birds would certainly have no difficulty 

 in leaving it unassisted. Contrary to the experience of other 

 aviculturists, I have never observed any male Weaver breaking 

 up the nest in order to enable the young to leave, but on several 

 occasions I have seen them doing it, after the young birds have 

 left. The Dwarf Weaver builds a very small nest; the entrance 

 hole is so small that I could only insert one finger. These 

 nests were suspended over water. Two pairs of young ones 

 were fully reared here. The nests were miniatures of the other 

 Yellow Weavers. 



Reminiscences. 



By Dr. L. Lovell Keays., F.Z.S. 

 (Continued from page 176). 



Writing reminiscences is not a very cheerful occupation. 

 It is too much like disturbing the family ghost; or like the old 

 actor recalling past triumphs, well knowing that his day is past 

 and that the future can never bring back those halcyon days. 

 And so the task seems to grow more burdensome as each 

 instalment becomes due. or rather, as I am reminded by a letter 

 from the Editor, overdue. 



My Sussex home and its aviaries can never be forgotten 

 in spite of their many faults and failings . Where I live now 

 the whole grounds would not contain them, and so perforce I 



