1536 THE PERCHING BIRDS 



close to it, while the space between the nostril and the edge of the mandible is greater 

 than that between the former and the culmen; there is never any distinct notch in 

 the upper mandible. The wings are somewhat rounded, with the first primary quill 

 very short, while the legs and toes are stout and strongly scaled. The family may be 

 divided into two groups or subfamilies, namely, the typical weaver birds, or Ploceince, 

 in which the first primary of the wing is nearly as long as the metatarsus, and there 

 is a spring molt; and the whydah birds and their allies, or Viduincz, in which the 

 first primary is much shorter than the metatarsus, and the only molt is autumnal. 



Commencing with the first or typical subfamily, we have first to 



notice the small African genus of true oxbirds, which have a rather 

 and Their 

 Allies l n g> conical, and laterally-compressed beak, the wings somewhat 



rounded and reaching a little below the base of the tail, with the 

 second primary quill only a little shorter than the third and fourth, which are the 

 longest; the tail being of moderate length and somewhat rounded, while the claws 

 are strong and curved. This genus is typically represented by the common oxbird 

 ( Textor alector) of Western Africa, shown in the background of the figure on p. 

 1537. This bird has a nearly uniform shining black plumage, with the bases of the 

 contour feathers white, the beak being horny yellow, with its tips and edges bluish, 

 and the feet blackish gray. 



The red-billed black weaver ( T. niger) is found in the Transvaal, Damaraland, 

 and the lake regions; the possession of a red bill easily distinguishing this large 

 finch-like and very noisy bird. It is gregarious in its habits, breeding in colonies, the 

 members of which construct many nests in a single tree. The nests consist exter- 

 nally of an immense mass of dried grass, twigs, and sticks, in which are to be found 

 from four to six separate nests or holes of an oval form, composed of grass only, but 

 united to each other by intricate masses of sticks defying the ingress of any intruder 

 except a small snake. In each of these separate holes are laid three or four eggs 

 exactly resembling sparrows' eggs, but much larger. Curiously enough, the birds 

 roost in these nests which are used year after year, any injury to the structure being 

 at once repaired by all the members of the community. Sir Andrew Smith found 

 this bird frequenting herds of buffaloes, and perching on their backs in search of 

 the parasitical insects which infest their hides. Like other birds of the family, 

 it feeds upon berries, seeds, and insects. The general color of the adult male is 

 black, with the first half of each wing feather white; but the young bird has some 

 whitish patches on the neck and breast. 



This weaver (Dinemellia leucocephala} , which represents another 

 White-Headed . . , ., r , . ., . . . . A . . 



... genus, is a comparatively-small species round in the interior of Africa 



and Abyssinia. Like other members of the family, the present species 

 is absent from dense forests, preferring to dwell upon grass lands in the more open 

 portions of the country. It is by choice somewhat gregarious, taking up its abode 

 on rough meadow lands, and seeking out the neighborhood of cattle. Although a 

 true weaver, it does not construct so neat a nest as most of its allies. The adult 

 male has the head and under parts white, the back, wings, and tail chocolate brown, 

 and the rump and tail coverts scarlet; it is depicted in the upper figure of the illus- 

 tration on the next page. 



