on Weavers.



63



The Abyssinian Weaver (H. abyssinicus). I have four

cocks and one hen. The difficulty with all Weavers is to get true

pairs. I bought so-called true pairs from two different dealers, only

to find when they came into colour that they were all males. How¬

ever I was lucky enough to pick up a hen from another source rather

late in the Spring and this bird laid three eggs—white, finely marked

with pink spots—and hatched one young one, which unfortunately

only lived fourteen days, being drowned in the nest by a heavy

thunderstorm. All the cocks proved great nest - builders, using

almost any material that came handy. Their nests were retort

shaped and usually hung from the wire roof of the aviary. They

were not nearly so closely woven as some of the other Weavers’

nests, and this was probably the reason why the pair that nested

failed to bring up their young one, the rain finding its way through

too easily. The brilliant black and yellow of the males make them

quite the handsomest of all the large Weavers.


The Rufous-necked Weaver (H- cucullatus). Of these

I have three cocks and one hen. The cocks are much duller in

colour than the Abysinnian and are in consequence less handsome.

The hens of the two varieties are practically indistinguishable. Two

of my males proved good nest-builders, but, although I frequently

saw the hen inspecting the nests, no eggs were laid. These nests

were built in bushes and trees and were fairly well woven. The

song of the Rufous-necked is not so clear or varied as that of the

Abysinnian, but is still rather pleasing.


Another large Weaver is the Olivaceous (S. olivaceus),

which is quite equal in size to either of the two varieties just

mentioned. It differs from them in having no black about it and

in having white instead of red eyes. When in full breeding plumage

the face is dusky, its white eyes making it look almost black, but

when compared with one of the other black-faced Weavers, the

difference is at once noted. This is the finest nest Weaver I have, for

although he failed to secure a mate, and consequently only built two

nests and these early in the Spring, yet these nests are as good now

as when they were built and are quite water-tight. From this bird

and a hen ( H. mariquensis) I raised two hybrids last season. The

young male hybrid has also proved a great nest-builder and has



