in fields of dense-growing maize. The nest is carefully and

.substantially built of green grass-stems and is suspended at a

good height from a slender overhanging branch ; it is purse¬

shaped and tapering at the upper part, so that it moves with

the least breath of air ; moreover, these nests are so numerous

that one shades the other throughout a great part of the day.


Many nests are unoccupied, and are supposed to be used

b3 r the males to roost in by night or in bad weather ; but it is

more probable that the weaving instinct, which is strong in

these birds, impels them to construct many more nests than they

require.


Von Heuglin believes that the males only build, but

Antinori declares that both sexes are engaged in the work of

•construction. Probably, as is the case with the species of the

genus Ploceits, the males build the greater part of the nest,

the females only assisting at the finish.


The entrance to the nest is in front, directed somewhat

downwards and sometimes with a small tubular extension. The

eggs appear to vary in number from three to seven, five being

the most usual number according to Von Heuglin. In captivity

the number is either three or four, the colouring being whitish,

lemon yellow, bluish, or bright green, spotted (chiefly towards

the larger end) with scattered dark green markings, more

numerous rusty brown spotting, or rust-brownisli and greyish

spots most densely massed at the larger extremity.


Although not b} r any means abundantly imported as a

cage-bird, this Weaver has been bred without the least difficulty

in German bird-rooms, building with either fresh grass or hay :

incubation lasts twelve days.


I purchased a male example of the Half-masked Weaver

about two years ago and turned it into an aviary with my Java

Sparrows and a Liothrix : it is no trouble, being always in mag¬

nificent health, and since I purchased it has never yet assumed

its winter plumage—a peculiarity which seems not uncommon

with the species of Hyphcintornis when kept in aviaries : for

food it has canary, millet, oats, and soft food, but no insects to

my knowledge, though it may perhaps sometimes capture a stray

cockroach.


The song is industriously persevered in throughout the

breeding-season, but it is rather comical than pretty, usualty

commencing with a few shrill excited chirps, followed by a

sustained rattling castanet note, like winding up an old kitchen-



