80 GARDEN AND AVIARY BIRDS. 



together that it is easy to understand the statement that 

 has been made to the effect that the cocks have no song. 

 They do sing, however, but the music they turn out is so 

 excruciating that it is not appreciated as such. 



The hen weavers bnly lay two or three eggs, white in 

 colour. The young are easily reared on saZoo-paste, and, 

 when full-fledged, will eat the ordinary bird-seeds. Thus 

 treated, they become delightfully tame, will follow one 

 about, and perch on one's head. I once lost two 

 young birds of the Eastern species which I was rear- 

 ing, they having flown out of the window. They were 

 away all that night and all next day and night. But 

 on the morning following, I was in the street just 

 outside of the compound and saw them flying over- 

 head. I called to them, and they came down close and 

 allowed me to catch them with very little trouble. Birds 

 like this can easily be tamed to live free about a 

 garden, though some will inevitably be lost in the train- 

 ing, as all are not equally clever. 



Native bird-trainers perform wonderful feats with 

 trained Bayas, teaching them to fire a cannon, fetch and 

 carry, and so forth. The Eastern Baya, which is the only 

 species living near Calcutta, is only of use for training or 

 keeping as a pet. It is too dull for an aviary bird, though 

 the handsome yellow-breasted Western Baya is very suitable 

 for this purpose. This species is the only one found in the 

 Bombay market, and a good many specimens are brought 

 down to Calcutta from Lucknow, but usually only cocks. 

 Anyone wishing to keep Weavers should get about a 

 dozen pairs if possible and give them plenty of room. 



