342 BIRDS OF INDTA. 



to remain awhile, and undergo maceration, before passing into 

 the powerful and muscular gizzard, required in these birds that 

 live so much on hard grain. They are usually very active on the 

 wing, with a strong jerking flight, and they hop on the ground. 

 Many of them are social, or even gregarious in winter, and 

 most of them construct neat, and, in some cases, elaborate 

 nests. 



They are perhaps more abundant in northern and temperate 

 regions than in tropical countries, and, in India, if we except the 

 Sparrows, the Munias and the Weaver-birds, most are migratory 

 and only winter visitants. 



They are divided into numerous sub- families, concerning the 

 extent of which there is much disagreement among Ornitholo- 

 gists. I shall, with Blyth, divide them into Ploceinte, Estreldincs, 

 Passerine, Emberizincs, Fringillina, and Alandince ; besides the 

 great group of American Tanagers, Tanagrincs, the most aberrant 

 of the family. 



The first two sub-families are well, distinguished from the others 



\ ° 



by possessing a minute first primary. 



Sub-fam. PloceinvE, Weaver-birds. 



Bill strong, conic, slightly lengthened ; the culmen arched, and 

 the ridge continued back upon the forehead; wings somewhat 

 rounded, first primary very minute ; tail short in most ; legs and toes 

 very strong and robust, the latter lengthened, especially the hind 

 toe, and the claws well developed. 



The Weaver-birds form a well marked group of Finches, peculiar 

 to the tropies of the Old World, and nearly so to Africa, for there 

 are only four Asiatic species. They are eminently social and 

 gregarious, nidificating in society, making most ingenious and 

 elaborate nests, and the Indian species, at least, laying pure white 

 eggs. They have a double moult, the males of most putting on a 

 gay plumage in spring, which is yellow in the majority, red in a 

 few. They have a remarkable similarity, both in colours and 

 habits, to some of the American Icterince and Agelaince. They do 

 not sing, but the flocks keep up a continual chirping. They are 

 readily domesticated, and will, it is stated, breed in confinement. 



