is nearly in full colour ; the collar seems to become redder as the

bird gets older ; when I first had my specimen, over two years

ago, it was of yellow orange colour.


There are two Weavers against which I ought to warn all

aviculturists with susceptible ears : I refer to Hyphantornis cucul-

latus and H. spilonotus. They are undoubtedly handsome birds,

and their weaving is highly interesting ; but they screech as

cacophonously as any Parrot and they do it almost unceasingly

throughout the day, added to which their tempers are the reverse

of amiable. The}^ both have a curious habit of from time to

time, as it were, running amuck through the aviary"", shrieking

at the top of their voices ; this, however, does not appear to

frighten the other birds, who only just get out of their way till

they calm down again. I have only noticed this habit during

the summer. Last j^ear a hen H. aureijiavus took possession of

a nest nearly completed by H. spilonotus and proceeded to line

it with feathers ; the bigger bird, in spite of his unamiable

temper, never attempted to drive her out, but contented himself

with fluttering round the nest or sitting on a neighbouring twig

as long as she was in occupation, hurling abuse at her in

language totally unfit for publication ; this apparently got on her

nerves at last, and she abandoned her design of rearing a family

— the nest was soon afterwards destroyed.


This habit of pulling their nests to pieces almost as soon

•as they are finished seems to be a regular practice with the

African Weavers, and it makes a terribly untidy litter all over

the aviary. My Indian Weavers have never done any building

(they are all bachelors) ; possibly grass, which is the only

material I supply for the purpose, does not suit them, though

the African species highly appreciate it. {a) I should mention,

however, that the Madagascar Weaver also will not use grass,

and has never built with me though he has a wife to help him .;

according to Dr. Russ this species prefers aloe or Agave fibre.


It seems that birds which build without the artificial

support of a nesting-box require a stronger material than grass

or hay ; except perhaps such birds as the Buntings, which build

very strong open nests with the tough flowering stems which are

naturally far stronger than the leaves. My Pied Mannikins

built once a beautiful nest of aloe fibre which lasted for several

months, but since they have only been supplied with hay their

successive nests are destroyed as soon as made. However, I have


{a.) My Indian WeaYers, also batchelors, have built very strong; and quite opaque

blasts with hay alone.^A, G. B,



