on Weavers.



65



in colour with white breasts, were raised very largely upon meal¬

worms, although seed, principally spray millet, was also taken. The

eggs were white.


Taha Weavers (P. taha ). Two pairs of these were given a

large aviary, in which there were no birds larger than themselves,

but strange to say no attempt at nesting was made. The cocks are

extremely active and spent much of their time chasing each other

and the hens around and around the aviary. They look very hand¬

some with their brilliant black breasts, contrasting so vividly with

the bright yellow of the other parts of the body. They differ from

P. afra by having the black on the under parts of the body extended

to the throat. Like all the genus they are very fond of mealworms,

and when I was feeding the Dwarf Weavers with these they generally

managed to get their share.


Crimson Crowned Weavers (P. flammiceps ). I have three

cocks only of this handsome variety, two of which were purchased

from a Continental dealer as a true pair of P. oryx. Hens of this

variety also seem unprocurable, which is a great pity as they would

well repay the trouble of breeding/" One or two of them built nests,

but they were never properly completed.


Orange Weavers (P .franciscana). Five cocks and four hens.


Napoleon Weavers (P. afra). Three pairs.


Red-billed Weavers (Quelea quelea). Three pairs.


These four last-named varieties were all kept together in a

large aviary, 13ft. high and having no natural cover. In with them

were Budgerigars, Cockatiels and Rosellas ; and although there were

many nests, as far as I know no eggs were laid. This is I suppose

what one might expect under these conditions, but the lack of

success in breeding them is more than compensated for by the grand

appearance they make in the aviary now that the males are all in

full colour. Another season, if all is well, I shall hope to place

them under more natural conditions, when some of them may bring

off young ones.



* Dr. Butler secured two hens amongst females of P. franciscana (Vide

Foreign Birds for Cage and Aviary, Vol. I. p. 194).



