THE WEAVER BIRDS 1537 



The typical representative of a true weaver bird forms the 



e rue comparatively-small group, common to East and West Africa and the 



Birds Oriental region, exclusive of the Philippine islands. While in all 



the preceding genera the culmen of the beak is flattened at the base 



and sometimes crested, in the present and allied genera it is rounded at the base; the 



true weaver birds being specially distinguished by having the nostrils rounded and 



COMMON AND WHITE-HEADED OXBIRDS. 



(One-half natural size.) 



exposed, and the claw of the first toe very strong and highly curved. The genus 

 Ploceus is confined to the Indian and Malayan regions, and is typically represented 

 by the common weaver bird, or bay a (/". baya) of India and Ceylon. All these 

 birds construct long flask-shaped nests, with a tubular entrance, and lay pure white 

 eggs. 

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