THE MAHALI WEAVER. 225 



Dr. Smitli remarks that the nests of certain Pyrgitae — i. e. little 

 birds which are popularly called sparrows in South Africa — are 

 armed in a similar manner, but with sticks and twigs, instead of 

 grass. 



The Mahali is a very sociable bird, being seldom seen alone, 

 and usually assembling in flocks, which sometimes congregate on 

 the ground, and at others assemble in the branches. It is equally 

 sociable in the disposition of its nests, twenty or thirty of these 

 curious structures being often found gathered closely together on 

 the branches of a single tree. Although its colors are not bril- 

 liant, it is a pretty bird, the back being of that peculiar brown 

 which is called " liver" by dog-fanciers, and the under parts white, 

 a long patch of snowy white also passing over each cheek. It is 

 about as large as our common starling, the total length being rath- 

 er more than six inches. 



Perhaps the most singular-looking nest made by these birds is 

 that of a rather small, yellow-colored species {Ploceus ocula7'ias), a 

 figure of which may be seen in the left-hand lower corner of the 

 illustration. This nest looks very like a chemist's retort, with 

 the bulb upward — or, to speak more familiarly, like a very large 

 horse-pistol suspended by the butt. The substance of which it is 

 made is a very narrow, stiff and elastic grass, scarcely larger than 

 the ordinary twine used for tying up small parcels, and inter- 

 woven with a skill that seems far beyond the capabilities of a 

 mere bird. 



The following account of Weaver Birds engaged in nest-mak- 

 ing has been forwarded to me by Captain Dray son, R. A., who has 

 frequently watched the whole proceedings : 



" The bird that builds these nests is colonially termed the Yel- 

 low Oriole. The ingenious little creature is nearly as large as a 

 thrush, and is of a bright yellow color, except the ends of the 

 wings, which are of a brownish hue. It is gregarious ; and when 

 a good locality has been found, several hundred nests will be sus- 

 pended from some dozen trees, within a few yards of each other. 

 The most pliant branches are invariably selected, from which the 

 nest is suspended ; and in all cases the end of the nest overhangs 

 the stream, so that any additional weight would bring the nest 

 into the water. 



" The birds make a great disturbance when building, there be- 

 ing usually a regular fight in order to secure the best places. In 



P 



