TROUPIALS AND ORIOLES 175 



in the fork of a bough, and this is the type of nest 

 built by the true Orioles generally. 



The Troupials, wrongly called Orioles in America, 

 from their frequently similar yellow- and- black 

 coloration and general habits, build, however, far 

 more wonderful nests, though curiously enough 

 these are woven also ; their constructions are long 

 bags like the old-fashioned netted purses, with the 

 entrance hole at the top near the point of suspension 

 to the bough. Woven pendent nests, but with the 

 entrance at the opposite end, are also made by 

 the Weaver-birds, whose stronghold is in Africa, 

 though the Baya (Ploceus baya), one of the best 

 builders, inhabits South-west Asia. The males in 

 these birds also are commonly yellow and black, 

 forming a curious but possibly significant correlation 

 of a type of colouring elsewhere very unusual in 

 birds with the supremest of skill in nest-building. 



In the nest of the Bayas proper (Ploceus baya and 

 P. atrigula), which are about as perfect as any of these 

 Weavers in building ability, we get first a suspension 

 cord attached to the end of the thin bough or 

 section of a palm-frond which bears the nest ; 

 then the bulb of the nest itself, which at one side 

 passes downwards into the long entrance- spout. A 

 section of the interior would show that the nest- 

 cup is divided from the entrance-spout by a firmly 

 bound partition, which prevents the young falling 

 out, and is also used by them as a perch when 

 older. When the nest is about half-finished i.e. 

 all but the cup and spout, the top half being done 



