ON THE BIRD-LIFE IN NORTHERN NIGERIA 31 



notes are poured out to the listener from cool recesses in 

 thickets and reeds. But it is not given to the traveller every 

 day to hear these beautiful singers ; he must rather go out 

 and seek them in the seclusions of streams and woods. 



WEAVERS NESTS ON RIVER YO 



Leaving those arteries of life, the rivers, and the green 

 wildernesses of the streams, we come to the bird-life that, 

 flourishes in neighbourhood with man. 



In all the native villages, the most common bird to be 

 seen is a black-headed yellow weaver {Hyphantornis cucul- 

 latus), in size a little larger than a sparrow. The large tree,, 

 a familiar feature in nearly every native town, where the 

 chief and his followers sit throughout the day regardless of 

 the passing hours, is generally covered with the pendent 

 basket-work nests of these birds, who are all busy weaving, 

 or enlivening the monotonous hours with ceaseless running. 



