322 TEXTOR NIGER 



ward of the 25fch degree of south latitude that we discovered 

 this bird ; and if we are to believe the natives, it rarely 

 extends its flight further to the southward, which they 

 attribute to the scarcity of Buffaloes south of that pai*allel. 

 Wherever it was discovered it was always in attendance upon 

 herds of the animals just mentioned, and either flying over 

 the members of which the group was composed, or else 

 perched upon the back of some individual animal. While 

 perched, it appeared, generally, to be employed in collecting 

 articles of food f I'om the hide ; and while so occupied it passed 

 cpiickly from one part of the Buffalo to another, without the 

 latter appearing to bestow the slightest attention upon its 

 movements." 



"More often," according to Stark, " these birds search for 

 their food on the ground, not far from trees and bushes, in 

 which they seek refuge if disturbed. They feed upon the 

 larger insects, locusts, termites, beetles and various larvte, 

 occasionally upon seeds and beri-ies. These are alert, vivacious 

 and noisy birds, fond of the society of their own species and 

 that of other birds. They feed in flocks and build in colonies, 

 their large collective nests being frequently surrounded bv 

 those of Sparrows and other Weaver-Birds. On the Limpopo 

 River they frequently build in a tree that is already occupied 

 by the nest of an Eagle or Vulture, possibly because the 

 proximity of their powerful neighbours afford them protection 

 against the attacks of monkeys and snakes. Generally from 

 four to seven pairs of the Buft^alo Weaver-Bird unite to build 

 a common nest of closely interwoven sticks and thorny twigs, 

 oval openings being left here and there, which are afterwards 

 lined with dry grass and used both as nesting and roosting 

 places. The collective nest, which measures three or four 

 feet across, is repaired and added to from time to time and 

 often lasts for many years. As many as six of the larger 



