294 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



modest female clothed in grey. I believe there are no other birds so 

 coquettish as the forms of this Weaver. The coquetry is habitual with 

 them, amounting as one may say to folly ; they even waltz when they 

 are not observed by the female, and appear to take, the greatest delight 

 in themselves. 



" The flight of the Fire Weavers is whirring ; during which they 

 hold the upper part of the body very slanting, and this distinguishes 

 them from all other Weaver-birds. Moreover, they are very indifferent 

 flyers and but rarely return by longer routes. 



"The first Oryx- Weaver in my bird-room was still so young, that 

 it had not completely acquired its full colouring. Consequently it did 

 not yet stand i\p with the full, saucy assurance, which at other times 

 is characteristic of it, but rather permitted itself even to be chased by 

 a powerful Orange-bird, which also subdued the Napoleon Weaver and 

 even the Velvet Finch (Yellow-shouldered Weaver). In the following 

 year, however, it flung itself upon the tyrant and conquered all the 

 others. Whilst it industriously built several oval round nests, entirely 

 of agave fibre in the bushes, at a height of about from one to one and 

 a half metres, (roughly, three to five feet), it pursued two females of 

 its own species, as well as those also of all the allied Weavers, with its 

 droll love dance, and very zealously fought with their husbands. 

 Moreover, it hunted all other birds from the vicinity of its nests, and 

 even would not permit a pair of Greyheads (Madagascar Love-birds) to 

 approach their nest-box, which was hanging immediately overhead near 

 the ceiling, so that the female died from inability to lay. These little 

 Parrots, which, indeed, are by nature very brave, were unable to defend 

 themselves against its strong assault. As I let the Oryx Weaver have 

 its own way, I several times reared, from both females, two to three 

 broods in a year. Many a male, however, is so excited and restless, 

 that it never gets so far as nest-building." 



Illustrations from living male in the Zoological Gardens and from 

 skins. 



