Weaver-Birds. 409 



positions. Lively scenes of great industry will then ensue, and perfect colonies of nests will be 

 constructed as if by magic. The birds will scarcely allow themselves the time to quarrel, and will 

 peaceably build any number of nests close to each other. A variety of Finches might be kept 

 in the same aviary without absolute risk of life or limb, for the Red-beaked Weaver-bird is 

 not spiteful, but the other inhabitants of the aviary would scarcely lead a happy life. In his 

 restless anxiety to weave jiests, anything comes handy to the Red-beaked Weaver-bird, and a 

 small Finch coming near him would at once find himself minus a wing or tail feather, a friendly 

 pecking at the neighbour's plumage being more convenient to the Red-beaked Weaver than 

 a search after a bit of fibre. 



To breed these birds in captivity has been shown by experience to be more difficult than 

 the breeding of more valuable kinds, but for the purpose of observing his strange constructive 

 cleverness, and with the object of gaining experience in the way to treat Weaver-birds, the 

 Red-beaked Weaver is invaluable. Seeds are the principal food of this and all Weavers, to 

 which a very little animal food should be added whilst the birds are in full colour. 



YELLOW- SHOULDERED WEAVER-BIRD [EnJ-lectes capensu), Africa. 



Ploceus capcnsis (Russ), Loxia capensis, Coccothruustes capensis, Loxia phalerata. Oryx capensis, Pyronielana capensis. 



English dealers' name — Caffre Finch. German name — " Sammtwebervogel. " 



Considerably larger than the preceding Weavers, the Yellow-shouldered Weaver-bird, or 

 Caffre Finch, is nearly the size of a Starling — a strong-beaked and strong-limbed bird, which I 

 found quarrelsome beyond endurance, though Dr. Russ gives him a better character. This 

 Weaver-bird — i.e., the male — is of very rich velvet-like black all over, except the wings, which are 

 dark brown, but a bright yellow back will be displayed whenever the bird droops the wings. 

 The female, and when out of colour the male bird, are dark brown, with light brown markings. 

 For the aviary the bird is unsuitable, except perhaps if kept amongst Starlings ; but then the 

 probability is that he will neglect the seed-food and live entirely on soft food, whereby the 

 Yellow-shouldered, like any other Weaver-bird, will get out of condition. According to Dr. Russ 

 the Caffre Finches breed more easily than other Weaver-birds, but most amateurs will get rid of 

 this clumsy and hard-biting specimen of his tribe after a short time. Among the shrubs planted 

 in the aviary they will commit havoc from sheer mischief. 



RED-FACED WEAVER-BIRD {Foudia erytkrops), West Africa. (Illuslrated.) 



Ploceus erythrops (Russ), Euplectes erythrops, Quelea capitata, Quelea erytkrops, Calyphantria tiyikiops. English dealers' name — 



Red-headed or Red-faced Weaver-bird, German name — "Rothkopfiger Webervogel." French name — -"Dioch a tcte rouge." 



All the preceding Weavers had long been well known to amateurs and collectors of live 

 foreign birds before the Red-faced Weaver-bird appeared in the market. Even the Zoological 

 Society of London did not obtain a specimen until 1871. Since then the bird has arrived in con- 

 siderable numbers, but somehow he has not found much favour. As shown in the illustra:tion, the 

 head of this Weaver assumes a bright blood-red colour in the breeding season, the female bird of 

 course showing no trace of such a change. All that need be said about this bird is that he 

 does not build as industriously as the Red-beaked Weaver, and that he is extremely difficult 

 to breed. He is neither as beautiful as a Bishop nor as interesting as the Red-beaked Weaver, 

 and therefore in the somewhat unfortunate predicament of missing his mark in the estimation 

 of his would-be friends. In the aviary he is comparatively peaceful. 



There are a number of other Weaver-birds, but they are not as frequently Imported as those 

 named and described. 

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