298 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



make-believe, of the mildest and most innocent description ; possibly 

 it may be awed by the presence of larger and more powerful Weavers, 

 such as the Baya, Comoro, and Madagascar Weavers, in the same 

 aviary, for, of my present eight males one which I had confidently 

 turned into my largest small-finch aviary, together with its wife, and a 

 pair of Napoleon Weavers, constantly quarrelled with the male of the 

 latter, and before the end of the year scalped and killed it. The same 

 bird also took great pleasure in chasing any bird which chanced to 

 settle near him and, although I never saw him injure any of these, I 

 thought it safer to restore him and the two hens to the Weaver aviary. 

 Illustrations from living examples in the author's collection. 



THE RED-BILLED WEAVER. 



Quelea, que/ea, LINN. 



THE Red-beaked or " Masked " Weaver, as it is sometimes called, 

 is generally distributed over the African Continent, and is ex- 

 tremely common ; so much so, indeed, that occasionally it is possible 

 to pick up a pair for three shillings, although this is more often the 

 price asked for a single bird. Of course the market value of this, 

 and all imported species, varies considerably, according to the quantity 

 which reaches the dealers ; but, hitherto, there has been no difficulty 

 in obtaining this pretty and interesting species. 



The adult male, in breeding plumage, has the feathers of the back 

 dark brown, with paler borders, the wings and tail are also brown ; 

 the forehead, front of face and chin are covered by a kind of black 

 mask, which includes the eye ; the rest of the head, throat, breast and 

 abdomen are bright rose-colour ; on the nape, this shades away into 

 the brown of the back, and on the chest and abdomen it becomes 

 white in the centre. Entire length 4 r v inches. Beak bright blood- 

 red, legs flesh-coloured ; iris brown ; a reddish-orange ring encircling 

 the eye. 



