PASSERINE BIRDS. 



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on the very summits of the trees, pouring forth their song for the delight of the female part of the 

 community, until they are inclined to go in search of food. About noon all is hushed, for at this time 

 the cunning Weavers are going down to drink, an operation requiring the greatest circumspection and 

 care as their enemies the Falcons are peeping at them over the trees, and ready to pounce upon 

 them at a moment's notice. They now assemble in the bushes near the water side, frequently to the 

 number of some thousands, where they scream and chatter much after the manner of our Sparrows. 

 Suddenly, with one swoop, the little creatures reach the desired stream, take a hasty draught, and are 

 back a°-ain to the thickets before their much dreaded foes have time to recover from their surprise 



THE GOLDEN WEAVER BIRD (Plocats galbllla) AND THE MASKED WEAVER BIRD (PloceilS larvatus). 



and follow in pursuit. This proceeding is repeated some ten or a dozen times during the hour that 

 is devoted to quenching their thirst, before they again commence their search for food. When the 

 labours of the afternoon are over, all again return to the favourite tree, to sing their songs, and sleep 

 away the night. In Soudan the moulting season commences about July or August, and after that is 

 over the flock are employed in making long excursions until the period of incubation returns. Most 

 species breed twice in the year. The following description of the Golden Weaver Bird's nest was 

 written some years ago upon the spot, where we were fortunate enough to have opportunities of 

 observing the manner of its construction : — The operation is commenced by placing long blades of 

 grass at equal distances from each other, and fastening them together with so much exactness that a 

 kind of framework is prepared, in which the form of the edifice is plainly discernible. The next step 

 is t$ make the walls, by weaving in long straws 5 great care being taken to lay them in a downward 

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