TRUE WEAVERS 



109 



in colour, being either plain white, plain blue-green, bluish- 

 green spotted with reddish-brown and grey, or cream colour 

 with dark brown and reddish-brown spots. 



The Spotted-backed Weaver {H. spilonotus) is the com- 

 monest form in the South-eastern Province of Cape Colony, 



Photo. : B. H. TJ. Draper. 



Fig. 58. — Nests of Masked Weaver-Bird. 



being exceedingly common in the Albany kloofs. It re- 

 sembles the Masked Weaver in colour, differing in having, 

 the back of a spotted appearance, owing to the feathers 

 being black tipped with yellow. Length, 7 inches. Like 

 the foregoing bird, it nests in colonies, but generally suspends 

 its nest from trees or bushes overhanging water. The eggs 

 vary almost as much as those of the Masked Weaver, but the 

 markings are of a more speckly nature. 



