THF, WEAVERS. 97 



THE WEAVERS. 



PLOCEID^. 



WE now come to the most popular Finch-like Birds, the so-called 

 " Ornamental Finches " of the fancier. Birds of which probably 

 thousands are imported, for every true Finch that is sent home; and 

 which, at our shows of foreign birds, almost monopolize the Finch 

 Classes, with the exception of those devoted to Cardinals. 



The family Ploceida is divided into two sub-families, the Viduince 

 or Whydah-like birds, which contains the whole of the Waxbills, Grass- 

 finches, Mannikins, and true Whydahs ; and the Ploceina or Weaver- 

 like birds, including the more typical Weavers. 



The term " Ornamental Finch " is applicable to the Waxbills, 

 Grassfinches and Mannikins, and answers to the German word 

 " Prachtfink." 



WHYDAH-LIKE WEAVERS. 

 SUB-FAMILY Viduina. 



DR. SHARPE points out that, in this group, the first primary is 

 very small and falcate ; attenuated towards the end, never reaching 

 beyond the primary coverts, and generally falling conspicuously short 

 of the latter. 



The domed nests of these birds are usually very cleverly con- 

 structed, and the pleasure of sitting down and watching a pair of 



