174 PLOCEID^E. 



The Ploceidce are divisible into two subfamilies, the Ploceince or 

 Weaver-birds and the Viduince or Manias. 



First primary about as long as the tarsus ; a 



partial spring moult Ploceince, p. 174. 



First primary very minute, much shorter than 



tarsus ; no spring moult Viduince, p. 181. 



Subfamily PLOCEIN^E. 



The PloceincK or Weaver-birds comprise a large number of birds 

 which are found in Africa and South-eastern Asia. They are 

 Finch-like in structure and appearance, but they differ from the 

 Finches in having ten primaries and in undergoing a partial spring- 

 moult. 



The Weaver-birds are gregarious, breeding in company, and 

 associating at other seasons in large nocks. They construct elabo- 

 rate nests of grass which are suspended from the branches of trees 

 or attached to the stalks of tall reeds. The eggs are either two or 

 three in number, in the genus Ploceus pure white, in Ploceella of 

 various colours. 



The males of these birds have a distinct summer and winter 

 plumage, and the former is acquired by a moult of the feathers of 

 those parts which undergo a change of colour. The moult in the 

 spring is thus apparently partial. 



All the Weaver-birds are sedentary in their habits, fearless of 

 man in the breeding-season, but more wary at other times. They 

 feed largely on grain and seeds. They have no song, but they 

 keep up a ceaseless chirping in the breeding-season, especially 

 when the building of the nest is in progress. 



The Asiatic Weaver-birds form two well-defined genera, differ- 

 ing in structure and their mode of nidification, as well as in the 

 colour of their eggs. 



Key to the Genera. 



a. Bill considerably longer than it is high ; no 



nuchal hairs ; difference between length of 

 wing and length of tail more than length of 

 tarsus PLOCEUS, p. 174. 



b. Bill as long as it is high ; nuchal hairs present ; 



difference between length of wing and length 



of tail much less than length of tarsus PLOCEELLA, p. 179. 



Genus PLOCEUS, Cuvier, 1817. 



The genus Ploceus contains the true Weaver-birds, which con- 

 struct flask-shaped nests with a tubular entrance, varying in length 

 from two feet to a few inches. The eggs are in all cases white. 

 In this genus the males acquire a yellow crown in the spring, and 



