158 



VERTEBRATA. 



proof tliat tlio animals addod to it at different times, as they found it necessary, from the increase 



of their family, or rather of the nation and com- 

 munity." 



Dr. Smith states that the banks of the Orange 

 River appear to constitute the southern limit of 

 the range of this species, Avhich "was only ob- 

 tained in great abundance in the districts around 

 Latakoo, far from water. " The most striking pe- 





/j/ ^(/f\l J^ culiarity," he adds, "observed in this species is 



the extraordinary manner in which a number 



of individuals associate, and build their nests 



f]v^Jv[ under a common roof. AMien a nestling place 



'Vlil'^'lv^®^''^1v^^ ^^ ^*^'^" selected, and the operation of building 



^l''/'/vlt!i' '■'^'fm, '^^ the nests is to be commenced ab initio, the com- 



iWm ^^^m\ ^'ii^^ty immediately proceed conjointly to con- 



•, ■- MmX (■'• n\^ struct the ffeneral coverins; -which interests them 



■" (4-'^'^//llM'^' ^^'i ^^^^^ being accomplished, each pair begin 



^'1 ~//ySlW''>^ to form their own nest, which, like the roof, thev 



'yi/^J s(m\'\^ construct of coarse grass ; these are placed side 



t* VK^^'SIn ^l ^y ^^^^ against the under surface of the general 

 •\vV;\^] "■'A^^ y covering, and by the time they are all completed, 

 /i'4 {/^{^^TOS a ^^^ lower surface of the mass exhibits an appear- 

 •U V.' ^'A'*''?' \ '^ ance of an even horizontal surface, freely per- 

 forated by small circular openings. They never 

 \ use the same nests a second time, though they, 

 continue for many years attached to the same roof. 

 With the return of the breeding season, fresh 

 nests are formed upon the lower surface of tliose 

 of the preceding year, Avhich then form an addi- 

 tion to the general covering. In this manner 

 they proceed year after year, adding to the mass, 

 till at last the w^eight often becomes such as to 

 cause the destruction of its support ; upon Avhich 

 a new building is selected. They appear to pre- 

 fer constructing these nests upon large and lofty 

 trees, but where such do not occur, they will even 

 condescend to form them upon the leaves oil 

 the arborescent aloe, as occasionally happens to-^ 

 ward the Orange River. The commencement of 

 the roof is firmly interwoven with the branches 

 of the trees to which it is intended to be sus- 

 pended ; and often a great part of a principal 

 branch is actually included within its substance. 

 These birds are of a reddish-brown, and of the 

 size of a bull-finch. Each female lays from three 

 to four eggs, which are of a bluish-white color, 

 and freely mottled toward the large end with 

 small brown dots. When once this species has 

 attained maturity, it never afterward exhibits any 

 change in respect to colors. The male has no 

 summer tints which he throws aside in winter, as 

 is the case in Ewplectes. Seeds, and occasionally 

 small insects, constitute the food." 

 The P . Jlaviceps, inhabiting the southeast coast of Africa, forms kidney-shaped nests, attached to 



1/ 



NESTS OK THE BENGAL WEAVER-BIRD. 



