THE SOCIABLE WEAVER BIRD. 23 
monkeys, which are capable of sad depredations whenever 
they can find an opportunity. Monkeys are extremely 
fond of eggs, and there is scarcely a better bribe to a 
monkey, ape, or baboon, than a fresh raw egg. The bird 
which laid it is almost as great a dainty, and a monkey 
seems to be in the height of enjoyment if a newly-killed 
bird be put into its paws. It always begins by eating 
the brain, and then tears the carcass to pieces with great 
deliberation. A mouse is quite as much appreciated as a 
bird, provided that it has been recently killed, and that the 
blood has not congealed. 
However, the structure of the nest forms an insurmount- 
able barrier to the snake, and the monkey can only reach 
a few of the cells which are near the edge. The worst 
enemies are certain little parrakeets, which are delighted 
to be able to procure nests without the trouble of building 
them, and which are apt to take possession of the cells 
and oust the rightful owners. 
