CHAPTER XI. 



PENSILE BIRDS. 



Weavee Birds and their general habits — Ekd-billed Weaver Bird — Its 

 ho^ine friends — Its use to the huffalo — Other parasitic birds — The Spotted- 

 backed Weaver Bird — Its nest, and variable method of construction — The 

 Mahali Weaver Bird — Shape of the nest — Singular defence — Theories 

 respecting the structure — Habits of the bird — Kemarkable nests of Weavers — 

 Account of Weavers engaged in nest-building — Very curious contrivance — The 

 Gold-oapped Weaver — Structure and situation of the nest— The Taha 

 Weaver Bird — Locality selected for its nest — Destmctiveness to crops — The 

 Palm Swift — Its general habits — The nest and its variable structure — Silk- 

 cotton — The Tailor Bird — ^Antiquity of handicrafts — Structure of the nest — 

 The Fan-tailed Warbler — Singular method of fixing its nest — The Pbnbuline 

 Titmouse — Its habits and food — Kemarkable nest and its form. 



Although the majority of nest-making birds may be called 

 Weavers, there is one family to which the name is jpar excellence 

 and with justice applied. These are the remarkable birds which 

 are grouped together under the name of Ploceidse, all being 

 inhabitants of the hot portions of the old world, such as Asia 

 and Africa. The last-mentioned continent is peculiarly rich in 

 Weaver Birds, as may be seen from a glance at the plate which 

 accompanies this description, on which are shown a number of 

 species, together with their nests. 



For the most part, the Weaver Birds suspend their nests to the 

 ends of twigs, small branches, drooping parasites, palm-leaves, 

 or reeds, and many species always hang their nests over water, 

 and at no very great height above its surface. The object of this 

 curious locality is evidently that the eggs and young should be 

 saved from the innumerable monkeys that swarm in the forests, 

 and whose filching paws would rob many a poor bird of its 

 young brood. As, however, the branches are very slender, the 

 weight of the monkey, however small the animal may be, is 

 more than sufiB-cient to immerse the would-be thief in the water. 



