THE ORANGE WEAVER. 295 



THE ORANGE WEAVER. 



Pyromclana franciscana, IsERT. 



THIS is a well-known, largely imported, and very beautiful little 

 bird which, when once acclimatized, will live for many years 

 without showing a sign of ill-health. It is an inhabitant of Western 

 Africa, from Senegambia to the Gold Coast, and the Niger, and of 

 North-eastern Africa from S. Nubia to Shoa, Somali-Land and Unyoro. 



The male in breeding-plumage is principally velvety black ; but 

 the neck, chin, and fore-chest are golden orange, shaded with orange- 

 vermilion, and this orange colouring becomes redder and more brilliant 

 with increased age ; the scapulars and centre of back vinous brown ; 

 the lower back and long plunie-like tail-coverts both above and below, 

 golden orange, the posterior flank-plumes fiery orange ; thighs buff; 

 beak and legs dull greyish flesh-coloured ; iris dusky. Total length 

 \\ inches. 



The female, and the male when out of colour, nearly resemble 

 P. oryx, only they are smaller, more unevenly streaked and spotted 

 above, and whiter on the abdomen. Length of female 4 inches. 



Von. Heuglin says: "The Fire Finch is without doubt a true 

 bird of passage in our region of observation. It does not, however, 

 travel in vast compact flocks, and it puts in an appearance, from the 

 interior, in June and July. It is particularly abundant in the low- 

 lying region of Abyssinia, ranging to a height of about 7,000 feet in 

 Takar, Senaar, Kordofan and Nubia. Its northern boundary on the 

 Nile extends to 22 degrees N. latitude. The assumption of colour in 

 the male takes place without a true moult in August and September ; 

 then very many pairs assemble in the tangled maize fields, in order to 

 carry on the business of breeding. The nest consists of a rather 

 slight, thin and net-like web of green stalks, which is suspended at a 

 height of from two to four feet, between several Z^ra^-sterns standing 

 near together, after the manner of the Reed Warbler's nest. They are 

 proportionally small and not deep, and usually contain three thin- 

 shelled bright blue-greenish eggs, slightly glossy, which are lightly 

 sprinkled, here and there, with rust-reddish and liver brown dots ; this 

 marking, however, soon fades. 



