PLOCEUXaE QUELEA 123 



brown, the under surface buff- white). The male is also slightly 

 larger. 



Adult female. Above, brown, the feathers with dark brown 

 centres ; wing and tail-feathers brown edged with yellow ; crown 

 and back of neck brown ; eyebrow cream-white ; eyelid and feathers 

 below eye the same ; lores and ear-coverts grey ; cheeks and under 

 surface of body buff- white, the sides grey ; the flanks brown ; centre 

 of breast and abdomen white ; thighs white ; under wing-coverts 

 yellowish-white. 



Length 4-60 ; wing 2-60 ; tail 1-70 ; tarsus O65 ; culmen 0-50. 



Distribution. The greater part of Africa to the north of the 

 Orange and Vaal Eivers; ranging into Nyasaland and through 

 Damara Land and Angola to the west coast. 



Habits. But little has been recorded regarding the habits of this 

 Weaver in a wild state. Ayres remarks that it is " tolerably 

 common in Potchefstroom and the neighbourhood in summer, 

 associating freely with the flights of Pyromelana oryx which swarms 

 here. It feeds with them on the open grassy plains and cornfields, 

 principally on small grass-seeds which they pick from the ground." 

 In Damara Land, Andersson met with this species in immense 

 flocks after the breeding season. He also found it a common bird 

 in the Lake Eegions. Dr. Butler, in his interesting " Foreign 

 Finches in Captivity," remarks: "In captivity this bird is an 

 indefatigable nest-builder, continuing to form one spherical nest 

 after another as long as material is freely supplied ; but, if this is 

 withdrawn, it will set to work with equal zeal to pick the nests to 

 pieces again. When building it always commences in the same 

 way, forming either an oblique or perpendicular hoop of plaited hay 

 or fibre, between two or more branches, or in the fork of a branch ; 

 from this hoop it works, starting from the bottom and gradually 

 filling in the back, finishing off with the front, in the centre of 

 which it leaves a small hold to enter by. I have never known any 

 lining to be added. Even when made of fine hay this nest is so 

 strongly woven that it is difficult to tear it apart, yet I have seen 

 one of my Baya Weavers gradually pick one to pieces in little over 

 a day, without spending more than half his time over the piece of 

 mischief. 



" If disturbed when building, the Eed-beaked Weaver raises 

 both wings perpendicularly and moves them gently up and down, 

 much after the manner of a large butterfly when perched on a 

 flower ; and, if the intruder persists in its interference, the architect 



