THE YELLOW-SHOULDERED WEAVER. 283 



Now it is that the stronger sex begins to assert itself, to sing its 

 harsh songs, puff out its plumage, strut, quarrel, and chase its hen 

 from pillar to post ; now, too, those in whom the weaving tendency is 

 strong, begin to plait their curious nests, and, in the case of such as 

 are not approved by the females, as laboriously pick them to pieces 

 again ; they are interesting and very hardy birds, kept by most 

 aviarists. 



THE YELLOW-SHOULDERED WEAVER. 



Pyromelana capensis, LINN. 



| NHABITS the western districts of the Cape of Good Hope, and 

 1 is frequently imported to this country: unfortunately its powerful 

 beak, and somewhat quarrelsome disposition, render it an unsuitable 

 companion for the smaller Weavers. A Weaver-bird in a cage may be 

 very handsome, but it is seen to so little advantage that, with a 

 limited number of large aviaries, it has always appeared to me better 

 to be without P. capensis, than to confine it in a cage where it cannot 

 fly about freely. 



The male of this bird, when in breeding plumage, is velvety 

 black, the flight-feathers dark brown; the lower back and croup bright 

 golden yellow, as also are the lesser and median wing - coverts ; 

 scapulars brown with a yellow gloss and black centres ; thighs brown ; 

 under wing-coverts pale buff edged with yellow, the margin of wing 

 also yellow. Length 6-fu inches. Beak dark blue-grey, legs yellowish- 

 brown ; iris brown. 



The female above is brown, the feathers with broad blackish 

 centres, those of the fore-back with pale margins ; lower back and 

 croup olivaceous yellow, streaked with smoky brown ; upper tail- 

 coverts pale brown with dusky centres; lesser and median wing- coverts 

 dark brown, with olivaceous yellow margins ; remainder of wing and 

 tail feathers dark brown, with pale edges and yellowish gloss ; lores 



