385 



PLOCEIN/E. 



PLOCEIN^E. 



a, Widow-Bird (Vidua paradisea) 

 erythrorhynehm). 



6, Ked-Billcd WhiUaU _finch ( Vidua 



Next to the sub-genus Vidua, in Mr. Swainson's arrangement, come 

 the following : 



Eupleetet (Sw.). Bill shorter than the head. Nostrils round, partly 

 concealed by the frontal feathers. Wings short; the second quill 

 shorter than the third ; tertials aa long as the primaries. Tail short, 

 even, or very slightly rounded. Feet large, gracile. Toes very long 

 and slender ; the lateral of equal length. Claws slender, very slightly 

 curved. 



Plocfiu (Cuv.). Bill considerably lengthened, as long as the head. 

 Nostrils almost naked. Wings moderate ; the second, third, fourth, 

 and fifth quills nearly equal ; tertaila shorter than the primaries. 

 Tail short, even. Feet large, thick. Toes robust ; the lateral equal. 

 Claws strong, thick, fully curved. 



SymplfClet (Sw.). General structure of Ploceut ; but the bill is 

 more compressed, the commissure curved, but neither sinuated nor 

 toothed. Winga short, rounded; the first quill half aa long as the 

 second, which, with the third, is graduated; the next three are nearly 

 e<|ii;il, and are the longest. Tail moderate, even. Feet strong. The 

 mi'lilli! toe abbreviated; inner lateral toe shorter than the outer; 

 hinder toe long, equal to the middle toe. 



Amadina follows in Mr. Swainson's arrangement, and he speaks of 

 the genus Ploceus thus defined as by far the most beautiful of the 

 division of Coccotlircmitinai. " It is," says he, " composed of the 



BAT. HIST. DIV. VOL. IV. 



Weavers, a name given them on account of that surprising skill with 

 which they fabricate their nests." 



Mr. Swainson, when treating of the nests of birds, says " There 

 is still another sort of suspended nests mentioned by Barrow (' Travels 

 in Africa ') as fabricated by a species of Loxia, or Grosbeak (probably 

 of the modern genus Euplectes). It seems always to build on a 

 branch extending over a river or pool of water. The nest is shaped 

 exactly like a chemist's retort ; is suspended from the head ; and the 

 shank, of eight or nine inches long, at the bottom of which is the 

 aperture, almost touches the water. It is made of green grass curiously 

 woven." Of this sort of nest (which is very artfully wrought), or 

 rather a collection of them, a plate designed by Daniell is given in 

 Wood's 'Zoography.' 



It may be considered certain that the hive-nests noticed by Barrow 

 and Paterson are also the work of Weaver-Birds. This republic of 

 nests, as it has been termed, is attributed by Barrow to a society of 

 the species termed Loxia soda by Latham, and this bird is very pro- 

 perly quoted by Mr. G. R. Gray us an example of the genus Philetierus 

 of Smith, JSaplecta of Swainson, and Ploceus of Cuvier. The synonyms 

 of Loxia soda given by Mr. G. B. Gray are P. lepidns, Smith, and P. 

 Paterionii, Less. 



' 



African Nests. 



The birds in question are said to construct their nests in one clump 

 and under one roof or cover, each nest having a separate entrance on 

 the under side, but not communicating with the nest next to it from 

 within. A space of ten feet in diameter ia stated to be sometimes 

 reached by these aggregated sylvan dwellings comprising a bird-popu- 

 lation of some hundreds. 



Paterson thus describes the operations of these social winged 

 citizena : " The industry of these birds seems almost equal to that of 

 the bee. Throughout the day they appear busily employed in carrying 

 a fine species of grass, which is the principal material they employ for 

 the purpose of erecting this extraordinary work, as well as for addi- 

 tions and repairs. Though my short stay in the country was not 

 sufficient to satisfy me by ocular proof that they added to their neats 

 as they annually increased in their numbers, still, from the many 

 trees which I have seen borne down by the weight, and others that 

 I have seen with their boughs completely covered over, it would 

 appear that this is really the case. When the tree that is the support 

 of this aerial city is obliged to give way to the increase of weight, it is 

 obvious that they are no longer protected, and are under the necessity 

 of building m other trees. One of these deserted nests I had the 

 curiosity to break down, to inform myself of the internal structure of 



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