THE FINCHES. 81 



They should not be associated with any birds weaker in 

 the bill than themselves, such as Canaries, as they have 

 a nasty trick of biting the feet of other birds, and are 

 generally spiteful in disposition. But the bright colours of 

 the breeding males, and their very interesting habits, render 

 them well worth keeping with such companions as Java 

 Sparrows, Budgerigars, or Doves. They will breed in cap- 

 tivity, and should have some insect-food at nesting- time. 



Two other species of Weavers are common in India, the 

 Bengal Weaver (Ploceus bengalensis), easily distinguished 

 by its blue-grey bill, and the Striated Weaver (Ploceus 

 manyar) which is heavily streaked with black beneath. 



Another species, though so far very rare and little 

 known, needs mention here, as most of the recorded 

 specimens have been met with in captivity. This is 

 the Large-billed Weaver of the Terai (Ploceus megar- 

 hynchus) which has been confused with the Eastern 

 Baya Weaver in ornithological works. The male of this 

 species in its winter plumage and the female always is 

 much like the ordinary Weavers in the corresponding 

 garb, but noticeably larger, being almost as big as the 

 Pawi or small Grey-headed Mynah. It is also of a duller 

 brown and less streaked ; but these points .were not 

 considered sufficient to distinguish it by anyone except 

 Mr. Hume, until I found, quite by accident, that the 

 summer- pi umaged male was very different from our 

 other species. It is much more yellow, this colour ex- 

 tending all over the undersurface of the body and nearly 

 all over the head, so that practically the only brown 

 parts are the wings and tail. 



F. GAB 6 



