46



Correspondence



and has reared young ones. These exactly resembled the long-tailed

grassfinches in every particular.


In conclusion I should like to relate the doings of a cock Red¬

headed Finch. He has been a widower now for over twelve months.


A few weeks ago three young white Java Sparrows came out

of the nest rather soon and he immediately took charge of them.

He used to follow them wherever they went and fed them most

regularly. He would do his best to keep them together and would

preen their feathers for them and look after them in every possible

way. Moreover, he would not allow their own parents to come

near them and, although the young Javas can now look after

themselves quite well, he still follows them about and at night

huddles up close to them on the perch.


As I write, we are in the middle of winter and the foreigners

are all in their winter plumage, but our Australian birds are as brilliant

as ever, and I certainly think it a great advantage for birds to look

their best all the year round.


Needless to say the birds are never provided with any artificial

heat, but live the hardy outdoor life and so manage to come through

even the severest winters.



CORRESPONDENCE.



THE TAHA WEAVER.


Dear Sir, — What is a Taha Weaver? I bought a pair recently, and I

thought they were merely Napoleon Bishops subject to melanism, but the dealer

said not. I hoped they might lose the melanism, but it seems to increase and the

hen is almost black. The cock is nearly in full colour, but has far less yellow than

an ordinary Napoleon.


If not Napoleons, are they equally hardy, and what country do they come


from ?


Yours faithfully,


The Citadel, Alfred Thom.


Hawkstone, Salop. _



The following reply has been sent to Mr. Thom :


Pyromelana taha is a southern representative of the Napoleon Weaver (P.

afra ); the latter ranges from Senegambia to the Niger and possibly to Benguela.

P. talia ranges from Benguela eastwards to Nyasaland, south-eastward to Lake

Ngamiand Natal; it is common in the Transvaal and the Orange Free State, where

(according to Stark) immense flocks assemble in the autumn and remain together

until the following spring.


I believe P. taha to be quite hardy, but cannot speak from personal experi¬

ence, as I have not kept the species.



A. G. Butler.



