PLOCEID^E HYPHANTORNIS 53 



Family IV. PL001IDJB. 



Bill very variable in size and shape, but more or less strong, 

 cone-shaped, the edges of the mandibles smooth and unnotched; 

 the culmen ending in a point among the frontal feathers ; the 

 nostrils within the line of the forehead or not far from it. 

 Wings with ten primaries, the first or outer sometimes minute, 

 sometimes fairly well developed. Tarsi strong, scaled anteriorly, the 

 sides covered with longitudinal entire laminae which meet in a 

 ridge posteriorly. Toes usually strong, the claws curved and sharp. 



The Weaver Birds, popularly known as "Finkes" in South 

 Africa, are closely related to the true Finches or Fringillida, but 

 may be usually distinguished by their having ten primaries, the 

 Finches having but nine that are easily found. This distinction, 

 however, does not invariably hold good, some of the FringillidcB 

 having as distinct a first primary as some of the Ploceidce. 



All the Weaver Birds build covered nests, usually suspended 

 from trees or reeds, but sometimes placed on or near the ground, 

 whereas the Finches (the Sparrows and a few South American 

 species excepted) build open cup-shaped nests in trees or bushes. 



About three hundred and fifty species of Weaver Birds are 

 known, distributed over the Ethiopian, Oriental and Australasian 

 Regions. Some two hundred and sixty species are found in Africa, 

 including the sixty that occur to the south of the Zambesi River. 



The family of the Ploceida is by Captain Shelley conveniently as 

 well as very naturally divided into three sub-families : 



1. PLOCEIN^:, including the typical Weaver Birds, with the 

 first primary fairly well developed, extending beyond the primary 

 coverts and about as long as the tarsus. The sexes are nearly alike 

 in winter but differ slightly in summer. They have a partial spring 

 moult as well as an autumn one. 



2. ESTRILDIN^], the Waxbills or Rooibekies, finch-like birds of 

 small size, with the first primary very small, attenuated towards 

 the end, and sickle-shaped. The male and female nearly alike in 

 plumage at all seasons. An autumn moult only. 



3. VIDUIN^E, the Widow and Bishop Birds, with the first 

 primary of minute size. The male and female nearly alike in 

 winter, but differing markedly in summer, the males having a highly 

 specialised breeding dress with frequently extremely brilliant colours 

 or lengthened tail feathers. 



