i68 



CASSELL S BOOK OF BIRDS. 



THE GOLDEN WEAVER BIRD. 



The Golden Weaver Bird (Ploccus galbula), the type of a numerous group, is an inhabitant of 

 Eastern Soudan. This bird and its congeners are all slenderly formed, and of moderate dimensions, 

 possessing a slightly curved and shallow beak, the base of which appears to join the forehead at an 

 acute angle ; the feet are strong, the wings moderately long, reaching past the tail-covers ; the tail is 

 of medium length, and abruptly rounded ; the third, fourth, and fifth quill-feathers are the longest, the 

 first being rudimentary. The adult male is a most beautiful creature, the top and sides of its 

 head, and all the lower portion of its body, being of a bright lemon colour. The region of the eyes, 

 and the parts around the lower mandible are bright red ; the back and wing-covers a brilliant green, 



'Py$i^ ||ffl 



NEST OF MAHALI WEAVER BIRD. 



NEST OF SOCIAL WEAVER BIRD 

 (Phileiaetus socius). 



with darker shafts to the feathers ; the quills and tail are reddish brown, bordered with yellowish 

 green ; the iris is reddish brown, the beak black, and the feet yellow. In the female the forehead is of 

 a greenish yellow ; the back of the head, nape of neck, and mantle bright green ; the shafts of the 

 feathers are of a deeper shade ; the throat is a dirty white, the upper mandible deep brown, the 

 lower one somewhat paler. The young male resembles the mother, but is distinguished by the dusky 

 yellow upon its throat. 



The Golden Weaver Bird is common in Abyssinia and the surrounding countries, where it may 

 be often seen flying about in company with its congener the Green Weaver Bird, but never joining 

 with it in the construction of a settlement. In their habits these birds are closely allied to other 

 Finches, and are lively, active, and extremely social. At such times as the work of building the 

 nests or rearing their young is not going on, they generally congregate in large flocks, and perch 



