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CHAPTER XLVII. 



THE WEAVER-BIRDS. 



One of the most interesting families of foreign cage-birds which reach Europe is that of the 

 Weaver-birds. Most of them are natives of Africa, a few species are found in Asia, and none in 

 America or Australia. The Weaver-birds are so called because their nests are constructed 

 by a clever interlacing of fibres, roots, &c., by which a very curious and durable family mansion 

 is formed. Instinct and necessity have made these birds wonderful architects. Natives of a 

 land where the rays of a vertical sun alternate with tropical rains ; where monkeys, serpents, 

 and all kinds of other enemies abound, the Weaver-bird has learnt to avoid these manifold 

 dangers for his progeny ; and consequently Weaver-birds abound in many parts of Africa, 

 delighting the eye of the traveller as soon as he sets foot on the shore of the West Coast 

 of Africa, and are ever present wherever he may wander in the interior. 



In its details the nest of each species of Weaver-bird varies, but all of them are more or 

 less ball-shaped. The roof is always very thick, and substantial enough to keep off the heaviest 

 downpour, as well as to protect the inmates from the tropical sun. The nest is invariably 

 suspended from frail branches or reeds, just strong enough to bear its weight, but never strong 

 enough to tempt any predatory animal to climb up. The entrance to the nest is invariably 

 from underneath, a sort of ridge dividing the nest proper from the entrance, and preventing 

 eggs or young from falling out. No bird of prey can therefore possibly see the contents of a 

 Weaver-bird's nest, much less commit any ravages on a brood. This natural instinct the 

 Weaver-birds never lose in confinement, and with unceasing activity the male birds will ever 

 busy themselves with the construction of nests, the female scarcely ever sharing her mate's 

 laborious building operations. Given a roomy cage, suitable food, a few branches, and a 

 quantity of stiff fibre, the male of a pair of Weaver-birds will without delay begin to build 

 nest after nest, probably pulling most of them to pieces when half finished if their construction 

 does not entirely please the somewhat proud architect. For his own special use the male 

 Weaver-bird loves to build a kind of half-nest, consisting of an arched roof, with a sort of 

 rope stretched across underneath to serve as perch. 



Gentle or affectionate birds the Weavers are certainly not. Their declarations of love 

 seem to consist in the male driving the female furiously about the cage. Next, the male 

 will offer battle to any other male Weaver-bird in the cage, and then set to work with 

 much excitement on building nests. The birds seem then to forget everything, food 

 included, and to be simply intent on building, which is done with incessant flapping of 

 wings, and a continuous hoarse and grating twitter. The hen takes very little or no 

 notice of her fussy lord. When the nest is finished she will condescend to inspect it, 

 smooth a fibre here and there, and, if convenient, she will inhabit the nest, lay eggs, and 

 sit on them. But now the male does not take very great care of her, beyond a great 

 row when another bird comes near. In his turn, sitting on the eggs is not to his taste. 



The Weaver-birds, notwithstanding their tropical native country, arc strong and hardy 



