THE M AHA LI WEAVER BIRD. 



333 



The Sociable Weaver Bird is found in several parts of Africa, and has always attracted 

 the attention of travellers from the very remarkable edifice wliich it constructs. Tlie large 

 social nests of this bird are so conspicuous as to be notable objects at many miles' distance, 

 and it is found that they are generally built in the branches of the giraffe thorn or " kameel- 

 dom," one of the acacia tribe, on which the giraft'e is fond of feeding, and which is esi^ecially 

 valuable in Southern Africa for the hartlness of its wood, from wliich the axle-trees of wagons, 

 handles of agricultural tools, and the strongest timbers of houses are made. This tree only 

 grows in the most arid districts, and is therefore very suitable for the purposes of the Sociable 

 Weaver Bird, which has a curious attachment to dry localities far from water. 



SOCIABLE WEAVER BIKD.— PAifeter«,< socitis. 



The Mahali Weaver Bird is also an inhabitant of Africa, and has a rathei' large range 

 of country, being found spread over the land as far south as the tropic of Capricorn, and prob- 

 ably to a still fai'ther extent. 



The nest of this bird is quite as remarkable as that of the preceding species. In general 

 shape and size it somewhat resembles the reed-covered bottles which are often to be seen in the 

 v>-indows of wine importers, being shaped somewliat like a flask, or perhaps more like a com- 

 mon skittle, and being composed of a number of very thick grass stems laid longitudinally, 

 and interwoven in a manner that can hardly be understood without an illustration. Contrary 

 to the usual custom of nests, in which the materials are woven very smoothly, the nest of this 

 bird is purposely constructed so as to present the roughest possible exterior, all the grass stems 

 being so arranged that their broken ends protrude for several inches in a manner that reminds 

 the observer of a military "aliattis," a defence formed by prostrate trees with the ends of the 

 branches cut off and sharpened. Probably this structure is for the same pui-j^ose as the 

 abattis, and is meant to protect the bird from the inroad of its enemies. Several of their 

 curious ediflces may be seen in the natural museums. The interior of the nest is sufficiently 

 soft and warai, more so, indeed, than would be supposed from the porcupine-Uke aspect of the 

 exterior walls. 



