CHAPTER IV 



BIED AECHITBCTS 



The first group under this heading is the large family of 

 Weaver-Birds (Ploceidce), which are divided into three 

 sub-families : — 



(1) True Weavers {Ploceince) ; (2) Waxbills {Estrildince) ; 

 (3) Widow- and Bishop-Birds {Vidumce). 



TRUE WEAVERS 



The commonest and most widely distributed member of 

 this sub-f aroily is the Masked Weaver {Hyphantornis velatus). 

 This bright yellow bird with olive-yellow back, black face 

 and throat, is a well-known figure along most of the South 

 African water-courses. It builds a kidney-shaped nest of 

 grass, beautifully woven, with the entrance hole at the 

 bottom. There is usually a bar across the inside of the nest 

 next the aperture to prevent the eggs from rolling out. The 

 nest is either hung between two or three reeds, or else sus- 

 pended from the drooping branches of a tree, usually a weep- 

 ing willow. We have even found the nest amongst mimosa 

 scrub away from water, although the usual site is in the 

 immediate vicinity of water of some description. In spring, 

 when these birds are busily engaged in constructing their 

 nests, the reed-beds and willow-trees are pretty scenes of 

 colour and activity. The wild, weird song indulged in by 

 the males is a very pleasing sound to. the South African. 

 The Masked Weaver lays eggs which vary very considerably 



