88 



The natives, when they walk, often carry with them these sticks 

 with the birds attached, and train the birds to leave the stick occa- 

 sionally and hover above it till it is again presented for the bird to 

 perch on, — the line by which it is attached being long enough to ad- 

 mit of this operation. 



June 8, 1852. 



G. R. Waterhouse, Esq. in the Chair. 



The following paper was read : — 



On the classification of the Strigid^. By Dr. Kaup. 

 This paper will appear in the Transactions of the Society. 



July 27, 1852. 



G. R. Waterhouse, Esq., in the Chair. 



The following papers were read : — 



1 . Note on the Indian Weaver-bird (Ploceus Philippensis). 

 By Lieut. Burgess. 



The dimensions of the male are as follows : — Length 6^ inches ; 

 from the carpal joint to the end of the longest quill- feather, 2|- inches. 

 Irides dark brown ; beak bluish black ; base of the lower mandible 

 dull yellow on the underside ; legs, feet and claws pale flesh-coloured 

 brown. 



Length 6^ inches ; from the carpal joint to the end of the longest 

 quill-feather, 2f inches. Beak yellowish horn colour ; base of both 

 mandibles, especially that of the lower, dull brownish orange ; legs, 

 feet and claws as in the male. 



These pretty little birds are sociable in their habits, building seve- 

 ral nests on the same tree. The nests are of beautiful construction, 

 shaped like a ball, with a long pendent tube. They are generally 

 formed of a species of strong wiry grass, but in places where the 

 date-palm grows, they are made with fine fibres, split by these httle 

 architects out of the small spiked side-leaflets of the branches. Both 

 male and female work, though the male appears to prefer looking on 

 and squabbling with his neighbours to building. When a blade of 

 grass or fibre has been brought to the nest, considerable time is re- 

 quired to work it into the growing fabric, the builder weaving both 



