454 



THE RUFOUS-NECKED WEAVER BIRD. 



the growing crops and does considerable damage. In many places, these birds are so 

 numerous, that in order to preserve their fruits or grain, the owners of gardens or corn- 

 fields are obliged to keep a constant watch over their crops during the whole day. For the 

 o-reater part of the year the Taha Weaver Bird frequents trees near the banks of rivers, 

 and may be seen in considerable numbers disporting among the branches. But at the 

 moment of the breeding season the birds retire from the trees and betake themselves to 

 the rank and luxuriant reeds which heavily fringe the edges and shoals of rivers, and 

 which form the supports on which the pensile nests are suspended. 



The colour of the adult male is yellowish brown, grey, and black, disposed rather 

 pleasingly over the whole plumage. The female is yellowish brown above, covered with 

 dashes of deep blackish brown. The chest is yellowish white with a slight rusty red 

 linge, and the abdomen and remainder of the under portion of the body are greyish 

 white. During the winter the male lays aside his handsome vestments, and assumer the 

 more sober tints of the female, so that the two sexes are almost undistinguishable. 



'■Ui^'A*/ouxi\j3 



RUl'OUS-NECKLiD WEAVER BIRD.— Hyphaitornis textor. 



The Rufous-necked Weavee is also an inhabitant of Africa, being found in Senegal, 

 Congo, and other hot portions of that continent. 



By many persons this species is known by the name of the Capmore Weaver, a term 

 which is evidently nothing but a corruption of Buffon's name for the same bird, namely 

 " Le Cap-noir," or Blackcap Weaver. It is a brisk and lively bird, and possesses a cheerful 

 though not very melodious song. It has often been brought to Europe, and is able to 

 withstand the eifects of confinement with some hardihood, living for several years in a 

 cage. Some of these caged birds carried into captivity the habits of freedom, and as soon 

 as the spring made its welcome appearance, they gathered together every stem of grass or 

 blade of hay, and by interweaving these materials among the wires of their cage, did their 

 utmost to construct a nest. The food of this bird consists mostly of beetles and other 

 hard-shelled insects ; and in order to enable it to crush their defensive armour, which 

 is extremely strong in many of the African beetles, its beak is powerful and its edges 

 somewhat curved. Seeds of various kinds also form part of its diet ; and the undulating 

 edge of the bill is quite as useful in shelling the seeds as in crushing the insects. 



The general colour of this species is orange-yellow, variegated with black upon the 

 upper surface. The head, chin, and part of the throat are black, and a ruddy chestnut 

 band crosses the nape of the neck. Like many other birds, however, it changes the 



