522 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 



by the BISHOP-BIRDS, the handsomest of which is the red species. Sociable in habits, this 

 bird throughout the year consorts in immense flocks, which in the summer consist chiefly 

 of males. 



Of the more remarkable nest-builders, the most conspicuous are the BAYA SPARROWS, or 

 TODDY-BIRDS, of India and Ceylon, and the SOCIABLE WEAVERS. The former suspend their nests 

 by a solidly wrought rope of fibre from the under side of a branch, the rope expanding into a 

 globular chamber, and then again contracting into a long, narrow, vertical tube, through which 

 the birds make their exit and entrance. The latter the SOCIABLE WEAVER-BIRD of Africa- 

 builds a still more wonderful structure. As a thing apart it has no existence, a number of 

 birds, varying from 100 to 300, joining their nests together, so as to form a closely interwoven 

 structure, resembling, when finished, a gigantic mushroom. The structure is built among the 

 branches of large trees, so that the tree looks as though it had grown up through a native 

 hut, carrying the roof with it. Cartloads of grass are required to rear this structure, which 

 is nearly solid. Seen from below, it presents a flat surface riddled with holes ; these are the 



entrances to the nests. 



Closely resembling the typical 

 Finches in general appearance, 

 and often gorgeous in coloration, is 

 the group known as the TANAGERS, 

 of which more than 400 distinct 

 species are known to science. Ex- 

 clusively American, the majority 

 of the species are found in Central 

 and South America, though a few 

 move northwards into the United 

 States in summer. The most 

 beautiful are the SCARLET, 

 CRIMSON-HEADED, and WHITE- 

 CAPPED TANAGERS. The last- 

 named is generally allowed to be 

 the loveliest of the group. The 

 entire plumage of both sexes is a 

 beautiful cornflower-blue, sur- 

 mounted by a cap of silvery-white 

 feathers, a crimson spot on the 

 forehead looking like a drop of 



tht by 



lleighton Buxxard 



HAWFINCH 



A resident in the eastern and midland countiet of England 



of the sexes is worth 



" * 



of coloration, though but little in 



many are 





Wtt H^resTeyr ZZ^^Zg^ ^^'*^ ^ 

 lar = ber o f species, may b e divided into ^^o^^^^^^Z 



America, are remarkable for their beauty, 

 icmbers are the HAWFINCHES and GREENFINCHES. 

 though rare in Scotland and Ireland, the HAWFINCH contrives 

 the gardener, owing to its fondness for peas, though it 



nnn<=> m fV'r. A'.~ ~f;_ L .1 



on by the numbers of noxious insects 



mixed with lichens i "of"; " f'ructure; outside it is composed of twigs inter- 



f dry grasses hned with fine roots and hair. The site chosen 



Among the weU-kno 

 Common in many pa's of E 

 to make "tsTmfch dtuk e d 

 fully compensates for the da H S I" 



it destroy. The nest i a ve r fh ^'1 " 



'" 



