THE GROSBEAKS. 395 



to select a tree which grows in a retired and sheltered situation, se- 

 cluded as far as may be from the fierce wind-storms which are so 

 common in hot countries. When a pair of these birds have deter- 

 mined to make a new habitation, they proceed after the following 

 fashion : They gather a vast amount of dry grasses, the favorite be- 

 ing a long, tough, and wiry species, called " Booschmauees-grass," and 

 by hanging the long stems over the branches and ingeniously interweav- 

 ing them they make a kind of roof, or thatch, which is destined to shel- 

 ter the habitations of the community. 



In the under sides of this thatch they fasten a number of separate 

 nests, each being inhabited by a single pair of birds, and divided only 

 by its walls from the neighboring habitation. All these nests are placed 

 with their mouths downward, so that when an entire edifice is completed 

 it reminds the observer very strongly of a common wasps' nest. This 

 curious resemblance is often further strengthened by the manner in 

 which these birds will build one row of nests immediately above or 

 below^ another, so that the nest-groups are arranged in layers precisely 

 similar to those of the wasp or hornet. The number of habitations thus 

 placed under a single roof is often very great. Le Vaillant mentions 

 that in one nest which he examined there were three hundred and 

 twenty inhabited cells, each of which was in the possession of a distinct 

 pair of birds, and would at the close of the breeding season have quad- 

 rupled their numbers. 



The number of eggs in each nest is usually from three to five, and 

 their color is bluish white, dotted toward the larger end with small 

 brown spots. The food of this bird seems to consist mostly of insects, 

 as, when the nests are pulled to pieces, wings, legs, and other hard por- 

 tions of various insects are often found in the interior of the cells. It 

 is said that the Sociable Weaver Birds have but one enemy to fear — in 

 the persons of the small parrots, who also delight in assembling together 

 in society, and will sometimes make forcible entries into the Weaver 

 Birds' nest and disperse the rightful inhabitants. 



The color of the Sociable Weaver Bird is brown, taking a pale buff 

 tint on the under surface of the body, and mottled on the back with the 

 same hue. It is quite a small bird, measuring only five inches in length. 



There are several allied species, which are remarkable for the struc- 

 ture of their nests. There is the Mahali Weaver Bird, whose nest 

 is shaped like a Florence flask, the Taha, the Kufous-necked Weaver, 

 and others, all of which suspend their nests to the ends of branches that 

 overhang water, thus ensuring safety against almost any enemy. 



The Grosbeaks or Hawfinches now claim our attention. They 

 are all remarkable for their very large, broad, and thick beaks, a 

 peculiarity of construction which is intended to serve them in their 

 seed-crushing habits. 



