158 THE FINCHES AND WEAVER HIKUS OF THE SUDAN 



II. Ploceicke, containing the Weaver Birds, Waxbills, Widow Finches, and Bishop 



Finches, etc. 



In the Fringillidif tlie wing has nine primaries only, the tirst (outer) feather being 

 about the same length as the second. 



In the Flocekhe there are fen primaries in the wing, the tirst of which is very small, 

 not nearly so long as the second. The base of the bill extends back like a wedge into 

 the feathers of the forehead. 



A glance at the outermost wing feather of a bird, or a count of the primaries, will 

 therefore show to which of these families it belongs — the first step to " running it down." 



[A'ofe.--The word "primaries" may here require explaining. The wing of a bird 

 folds like a Z. The "upper arm" (a strong single bone, the huinerii:<}, is directed 

 backwards; next is the "forearm," a long joint composed of two bones (the radins and 

 the ulna) forming the stem of the Z; then comes the "hand," formed of several small 

 bones, and directed backwards again — the bottom of the Z. The large flight feathers 

 which spring from the hand are the primaries, and those which spring from the forearm 

 are the secondaries. They form a continuous series, but the joint between the forearm 

 and the hand is the dividing point between them.] 



Most of the Fringillidse (Finches) found in the Sudan are resident, only a small 

 proportion of the species being cold weather visitors. Most are of gregarious habits, 

 and feed principally on grain and seed ; in the breeding season, however, they feed their 

 young mostly upon insects, though partly on semi-digested seed. All except the Sparrows 

 and Eock-Sparrows make open cup-shaped nests. They moult once in the year, in autumn, 

 and have a partial change of colour in spring, due to the falling off of worn feather tips. 

 (A good instance of this style of change is afforded by the cock of the common 

 Sparrow ; in winter the black throat feathers are edged with whitish ; in the spring 

 these edges are worn off, leaving the throat mark pure black.) The eggs of the Frmyillidie 

 vary greatly, but are usually coloured and spotted or streaked. 



The Floceidw (Weavers) are all residents. All are gregarious, especially those of the 

 genera Hyphantomis and Qiielea, some of which congregate in flocks literally of millions. 

 They build covered nests, and their eggs vary greatly, being white, uniformly coloured, 

 or spotted. They feed on grain or seeds and insects. Most of the sub-family Ploceinee 

 breed in colonies, making beautifully w'oven nests suspended from trees or reeds. These 

 are often retort-shaped, with the entrance at the bottom of a hanging tunnel. 



The Estrildinx pair off in the breeding season, making small domed nests in grass 

 or bushes, and not breeding in colonies. The VidiiinH} build woven nests, often placed 

 in grass or I'eeds. Many of them are polygamous, a small proportion of brightly plumaged 

 males attending to a colony of nesting females. 



Family I. FringiUidie 



The locally occurring birds of this family are divided into two groups or sub-families: — 



1. Fmberizinie (Buntings). 



2. Fringillinas (Sparrows, Serin Finches, etc.). 



The Fmherizinee, or Buntings, of which the English Yellow-hammer is a well-known type, 

 may be i-eadily recognised by the form of the bill, in which, when closed, the cutting 

 edges of the mandibles do not quite meet together in the middle. There is also a sharp 

 angle on the under surface of the lower mandible, close to the chin. The Buntings 

 build open nests on or near the ground, and their eggs are generally marked with 

 irregularly scribbled lines. 



