250 



ON SAFARI 



before described, build separate pendulous nests — each 

 a distinct structure, but often banging by the dozen 

 together. Here at Simba, by the riverside, we found 

 weavers' nests of cpiite different architecture. These 

 were domed nests with side-entrance, neatly fixed on 

 tall flowering reeds — some on a single stem ; others had 

 two or three reeds passing through their structure. 



NESTS OF WEAVEK-FINCHES ON THE SIMBA KIVEK. 



There was, of course, the customary profusion of gor- 

 geous tropical hues — bee-eaters resplendent in turcjuoise 

 and carmine ; kingfishers in azure and orange ; golden 

 orioles ; and, beyond all in brightness, the lovely jewelled 

 sunbirds. Forest-ojDen and flowery glade gleamed with 

 these gaily-feathered atoms as they hovered over some 

 open bloom, alighting for an instant to probe the calyx 

 with long curved bill. One species had an emerald head, 

 set off by dark body ; in another the head and back 

 were black, breast bright scarlet, all glancing with 



