PASSERINE BIRDS. 



173 



The male 



and fifth quills, and the five exterior tail-feathers are gold colour, the rest of a paler shade 

 is without the black face during the winter months. 



The Queleas must be regarded as by far the most numerous of the race of Weaver Birds. In 

 Soudan they are met with in enormous flocks, and are certainly the commonest of the feathered 

 inhabitants of Central and Western Africa. We ourselves have seen twenty-seven brought down at a 

 single shot. The habits of the Diocks resemble those of other Weavers, but, unlike most of them, 



BREEDING-NEST OF THE GOLDEN-FRONTED WEAVER BIRD {OrialillUS ictCrOC(phalus). 



they fly over the country, or perch upon the river banks in flocks that number several thousands, 

 many of which are of other species. When in confinement these birds will carry on their building 

 operations with great industry, employing coloured thread, if given to them, as a substitute for other 

 materials. We have, moreover, been told that feathers, yarns, and worsteds of brilliant hues are 

 much preferred for this purpose, and that the designs constructed from them are sometimes 

 extremely beautiful, but we cannot vouch for this from our own experience. Reichenbach speaks of 

 their manners in a way that is by no means flattering. He tells us that the Crimson Beak is a most 

 quarrelsome, restless creature, and quite unfit to be placed in a cage with other birds of smaller size, 



