362 



A VES ORDER PASSERIFORMES. 



The Weaver- 

 Birds. Family 



Ploceidce. 



Fig. 98. THE BLACK-HEADED HANG 



NEST (Icterus melanocephalus). 



or orange, but they differ from the orioles of the Old World, with which they 

 are often confused, by having only nine 

 primaries. Nearly 140 species of Icteridce 

 are known, and some species of the genus 

 Cassidix appear, from the recent observa- 

 tions of Mr. A. Schulz, to be parasitic on 

 each other, for Dr. Kuschel of Breslau in- 

 forms us that Cassidix oryzivorus deposits 

 its eggs in the nest of C. persicus. The 

 meadow-larks (Sturnella) are ground birds, 

 as their name implies. 



Intermediate between the hang-nests and 

 the finches come the weaver-birds. Al- 

 though they resemble the 

 finches in their food and in 

 many of their habits, they 

 mostly build domed and 

 hanging nests like the Ic- 

 teridce. 



Weavers are found in all parts of Tropical 

 Africa and Madagascar, as well as in India 

 and Burma, as far south as the Malayan Peninsula. The weaver-finches, 

 which are an integral portion of the family Ploceidce, consist of the wax-bills, 

 such as Estrilda, Lagonosticta, Poephila, etc., are found in the Australian 

 region, as well as all over Tropical Africa and through- 

 out the Indian region. The weaver-birds build a sub- 

 stantial nest, purse-like in shape, often with a long 

 stocking-like entrance. As the nests are generally 

 suspended from the ends of palm-branches, or from 

 trees which overhang the water, it is supposed that 

 this stocking-like appendage is added to the nest to 

 prevent the attacks of monkeys or snakes, both of 

 which are enemies of the young weaver-birds. The 

 weavers have no pretensions to singing powers, and 

 can only keep up an incessant chattering, which does 

 duty for a song. When kept in captivity, and supplied 

 with dried grass for weaving, a baya weaver (Ploceus 

 baya) will make a nest in a cage, and the industry of 

 the birds is simply remarkable. The eggs of weaver- 

 birds vary to a great extent, being pure white, or bluish 

 or greenish, with deeper markings of the same colours. 



These are brilliantly-coloured birds of the New World, resembling finches 



_. _ in appearance, but distinguished by having a notch in the 



Family ^ " u PP er mandible. They are very numerous in the neo- 

 Tanagridce. tropical region, and several species visit North America in 



summer. 



These curious little birds are allied to the Tanagridce, but have nevertheless 

 the habits of the creepers, and their creeper-like eggs, white 

 with red spots, point to an alliance with the tree-creepers 

 (Gerthiidce). The principal genera of the family are Gerthiola 

 and Ccereba, the latter containing the well-known blue- 

 creeper (Ccereba cyaned). 



Fig. 99. THE BLACK- 

 HEADED WEAVER-BIRD 

 (Hyphantornis melano- 

 cephalus). 



The American 

 Creepers. 



Family 

 Cwrebidce. 



