HYPHANTORNIS CUCULI>ATUS 425 



The males assume their full phunage wittiin the hrst twelve 

 months and never lose it afterwards. They have a loud shrill 

 note, are very active and gregarious, breeding in colonies and 

 generally selecting for that purpose the large trees in towns or 

 villages, apparently appreciating the protection thus afforded 

 them against snakes and monkeys, which are no doubt their 

 worst enemies during the breeding season. The nest is of a 

 rounded form with a short side entrance passage hanging 

 down, and is constructed of grass and shreds of the leaves 

 generally of the Banana or Palm-tree, is carefully and solidly 

 woven, and strongly attached to the twigs from which it 

 hangs, and the lining of the nests, I examined at Cape Coast, 

 consisted of soft dry grass and a few feathers. According to 

 Dr. Biittikofer, the eggs are two or occasionally three in num- 

 ber, of a pale green colour sparsely freckled with brown, and 

 measure 0'9 X 0'6. 



They show little fear of man, and ai-e hardy, interesting 

 cage-birds, weaving on to the bars of their cage any string, 

 grass, or suitable materials they are supplied with, regardless of 

 the season of the year. A male which I have now had in a 

 cage for over twelve years I have fed upon seeds, but it will 

 eat almost anything and is specially fond of grasshoppers, and 

 will take all kinds of insect food. 



Grordon (Contrib. Orn. 1849, p. 9) records thus a marvellous 

 instance of the intelligence of "a similar species which is very 

 common in India during the grain season, is occasionally 

 taught tricks by the natives, such as loading and firing a small 

 cannon, &c. I have myself witnessed a most extraordinary 

 arrangement in the nest of tliis bird ; on one side of the in- 

 terior a piece of clay may be seen adherent to the nest; into 

 this the bird, during the season of incubation, places a glow- 

 worm or fire-fly during the night." 



In the British Museum there is a specimen from Rufisque 



