4o6 Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



The orange tint of the Grenadier Weaver is very varied, some individuals being deep 

 orange-red, others rich bright yellowisli-orange. 



The female is, as already stated, much like a hen-sparrow, and smaller than the male. 

 Of all the Bishop Weavers, the Oryx is the most valuable, and very rarely are more than 

 a few pairs offered at a time. Dr. Russ calls the bird very excitable and combative in 

 the aviary during breeding-time, whilst I found the Oryx less quarrelsome than the smaller 

 Bishops. A pair of Grenadiers will without any hesitation build a nest very much like 

 one shown in the illustration, and will breed freely if circumstances are at all favourable. 

 A very rare local variety of Grenadier Weavers, viz., the Euplcctcs Siindcvalli, bred in my 

 aviary without my knowledge, and I was not even aware that they had been incubating 

 until two young birds were flying about. How these young birds, almost as large as a 

 Bullfinch, had room with their mother in the nest, I have never been able to make 

 out. 



One of the strangest sights a collection of Weaver-birds affords is the Oryx, when 

 endeavouring to attract the notice of the hen-bird. He will gradually raise his body and 

 blow himself out until he looks much larger than he is, and the feathers stand nearly 

 erect, whilst he will utter sounds which seem a mixture of hissing, chirping, and the noise 

 of scissors-grinding. Should the female remain indifferent to the charms of this music, he 

 will chase her all over the aviary, but presently his vanity will overcome his wrath, and he 

 will begin to blow himself out afresh. All that is needful to know about food has been 

 said in the general remarks respecting the Weaver-birds. 



ORANGE WEAVER-BIRD {Eupledes franciscanus), West Africa. (Illustrated.) 

 Ploceus franciscanus (Russ), Loxia franciscana, Fringilla ignicolor, Eupledes ignicolor. English dealers' name — Orange Bishop. 



German name — "Orange Webervogel." 



The Orange Weaver-bird, or Orange Bishop, is about the size of a Goldfinch, and a 

 most brilliant-coloured bird. The plumage of the male is bright reddish-orange and velvet- 

 like black, and the arrangement of these colours is more readily understood by referring 

 to the illustration than by any amount of description. The female is, like all Bishops,, of 

 a very sober brown colour. Easily, and when out of colour very cheaply obtainable, the 

 Orange Bishop deserves a place in every aviary, and especially in open-air aviaries, as he 

 will stand a good deal of rough weather. But amateurs must bear certain peculiarities in 

 mind, which, if overlooked, may cause much annoyance, but if taken into consideration can 

 be made use of An extremely excitable, restless, and jealous bird is the Orange Bishop. 

 Two males, when in colour, will fight terribly, and if males and females are brought together in 

 the breeding-time, the poor hens will be worried and driven all over the cage or aviary with- 

 out cessation. The best plan will be found to be, to secure a male bird and two or three 

 females, before the male is in colour, and to turn them together into an aviary. As the 

 breeding season approaches, the male bird will divide his attention between the females, 

 and not interfere with other birds in any way, provided they are not Weavers. With 

 unceasing activity he will build a number of nests, and possibly one of the hens may 

 take up her abode in one of them. The presence of several hens will so stimulate the 

 activity of the male that he will not waste time on pulling unused nests to pieces, and 

 these are often made use of by small African Finches in preference to any artificial con- 

 trivance we can give them for nesting. For food and treatment see general remarks on 

 Weaver-birds, pages 404, 405. 



