NESTS OF WEAVER BIRDS. 



305 



expect soon to have a troop of birds swarming about him like 

 so many scolding beldames, for the weavers never can see one 

 of their enemies without flying up to it with hoarse screams, 

 shooting close to its body, and, when an opportunity offers, 

 indulging in a passing peck. 



The nests of the various species of weavers are very dissimilar 

 in shape and design ; some very long, others very short ; some 



SOCIAELE WEAVKU BIUD. 



I 



having their entrance from below, others at the side, and 

 others again from near the top. Some are made of delicate 

 fibres, and others of coarse grass ; some are of so loose a 

 texture that the eggs can plainly be seen through them, while 

 others are so strong and thick that they will bear the 

 roughest handling without going to pieces. That of the 

 Mahali Weaver, a pretty bird about as large as our common 

 starling, resembles in shape a Florence oil-flask, but instead of 



