Section IN. FRINGILLAS (continued.)* 
Family II. PLOCHIDA. 
Bill strong and Finch-like, with the culmen extending back in a wedge 
between the sides of the frontal feathers; edges of the mandibles smooth, 
excepting in Pyrenestes. Nasal aperture rounded and impinged upon by 
the frontal feathers. Wings of ten primaries, the first a bastard-primary. 
Tail of twelve feathers, variable in form, and sometimes differ in the sexes 
according to the season. Tarsi and toes moderately strong, and the claws 
curved and sharply pointed. 
The name of Weaver-bird has been given to the members of this family 
on account of their peculiar habit of weaving together the materials with 
which they construct their solid and often beautiful nests. When on reeds 
or in trees they are often suspended in colonies, and the entrance passage 
is frequently formed like a sleeve, varying from a few inches in length 
up to about five feet. Others will construct in company a single substantial 
roof for the protection of a whole colony. 
The family is confined to the tropical portion of the Old 
World. Some 250 species (more than two-thirds) inhabit the 
Ethiopian region, and only about ten of these range beyond 
its boundary. 
The members of this family may be readily distinguished 
from all the other Ethiopian Finches, not only by the well- 
marked first primary being shorter than all the others, but 
also by the bare culmen extending back so as to divide the 
feathers of the forehead into two portions. 
With regard to the English names, I have endeavoured to 
make them useful by restricting certain ones to well-marked 
divisions. 
* Vol. IIL., p. 140. 
