CHAPTEE IV. 

 BIKD AECHITECTS. 



THE first group under this heading is the large family 

 of Weaver-Birds (Ploceida), which are divided into three 

 sub-families : 



(1) True Weavers (Ploceince) ; (2) Waxbills (Estril- 

 dince) ; (3) Widow- and Bishop-Birds (Viduince). 



TRUE WEAVERS. 



The commonest and most widely distributed member 

 of this sub-family is the Masked Weaver (Hyphantornis 

 velatus). This bright yellow bird with olive-yellow back, 

 black face and throat, is a well-known figure along most 

 of the South African water courses. It builds a kidney- 

 shaped nest of grass, beautifully woven, with the entrance 

 hole at the bottom. There is usually a bar across the 

 inside of the nest next the aperture to prevent the eggs 

 from rolling out. The nest is either hung between two 

 or three reeds, or else suspended from the drooping 

 branches of a tree, usually a weeping willow. We have 

 even found the nest amongst mimosa scrub away from 

 water, although the usual site is in the immediate vicinity 

 of water of some description. In spring, when these birds 

 are busily engaged in constructing their nests, the reed- 

 beds and willow-trees are pretty scenes of colour and 



