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them announced they were cocks, and that their gorgeous

plumage was only a question of a few weeks.


From the bad character Weaver-birds are usually branded

with, I expected ructions in the aviary as they came into full

plumage, but, although they are now nearly in their full Summer

attire, I have not noticed any serious disturbance (£). The Indigo

certainly can’t stand the Nonpareil in too familiar closeness, so

the Nonpareil moves off a little, and there is an end of the

matter; and the Orange Bishop is just a bit fussy, but that is all

the disturbance I have noticed. So far, the Oryx, Madagascar,

and Napoleon are model aviary companions. I shall, never¬

theless, keep an eye on all, and if they do turn out rough, later,

they will be removed to other quarters. It is true, I have only

male birds of each kind, and they might not be so well behaved

if they were in pairs.


Weaver-birds are frugal livers, and will live pretty well on

seed alone, but as green food and ants’ eggs are always in the

aviary where they are, they may eat a little of both—anyway the

food is at their disposal “ si le cceur leur en dit,”—the Nonpareil

and Indigo p'robably do partake of it.


Weaver-birds have no song to boast of. So far I have not

heard a sound from the Napoleon ; the Madagascar has a lively

chirp; the Oryx is continually treating us to his song, the

commencement of which is not too bad, but he generally ends

with a sound resembling steam escaping through a cracked

steampipe or defective steam tap; the Orange Bishop seems to

limit his song to the steampipe note alone.


To anybody wishing to have a small collection of birds of

handsome plumage, in a cage in a house, or under a verandah, I

can recommend those I mention ; they are sure to attract the

admiration of all who see them, and their brilliant plumage is

seen better in a cage, all together in close quarters, than in a

large aviary. _


THE COMMON SWIFT.


By Arthur G. Butler, Ph.D.


My own experience of an adult Swift mentioned in Vol.

III. of “ British Birds with their nests and eggs ” is the only

recorded instance which I have met with of an attempt to keep

this bird in captivity. The bird there mentioned only lived for


(b). If Mr. Savage will introduce a Black-headed Weaver, or almost any species

of Hyphaniornis or Ploceus into his community, he will have an opportunity pretty speedily

of proving the truth of the aspersions on their character.—A. G. B.



