340 THE GROSBEAKS, OR HAWFINCHES. 
greater number of them being found in Africa, and the remainder in various 
parts of India. 
The SOCIABLE WEAVER BIRD is found in several parts of Africa, and has 
always attracted the attention of travellers from the very remarkable edifice 
which it constructs. The large social nests of this bird are so conspicuous 
as to be notable objects at many miles’ distance, and it is found ,that they 
generally build in the branches of the giraffe thorn or “ kameeldorn,” one of 
the acacia tribe. 
The Sociable Weaver Bird, which is by some writers termed the “ Sociable 
Grosbeak,” in choosing a place for its residence, is careful to select a tree 
which grows ina retired and sheltered situation, secluded as far as may be 
from the fierce wind-storms which are so common in hot countries. When a 
pair of these birds have determined to make a new habitation, they proceed 
after the following fashion :—They gather a vast amount of dry grasses, 
the favourite being a long, tough, and wiry species, called ‘“ Booschmanees- 
grass,” and by hanging the long stems over the branches and ingeniously 
interweaving them, they make a kind of roof, or thatch, which is destined 
to shelter the habitations of the community, 
In the under sides of this thatch they fasten a number of separate nests, 
each being inhabited by a single pair of birds, and only divided by its walls 
from the neighbouring habitation. All these nests are placed with their mouths 
downwards, so that when an entire edifice is completed, it reminds the 
observer very strongly of 2 common wasp’s nest. This curious resemblance 
is often further strengthened by the manner in which these birds will build 
one row of nests immediately above or below another, so that the nest- 
sivups are arranged in layers precisely similar to those of the wasp or hornet. 
The number of habitations thus placed under a single roof is often very 
great. Le Vaillant mentions that in one nest which he examined there 
were three hundred and twenty inhabited cells, each of which was in the 
possession of a distinct pair of birds, and would at the close of the breeding 
season have quadrupled their numbers. 
The number of eggs in each nest is usually from three to five, and their 
colour is bluish white, dotted towards the larger end with small brown spots. 
The food of this bird seems to consist mostly of insects, as, when the nests 
aie pulled to pieces, wings, legs, and other hard portions of various insects 
are often found in the interior of the cells. It is said that the Sociable 
Weaver Birds have but one enemy to fear in the persons of the small par- 
rots, who also delight in assembling together in society, and will sometimes 
make forcible entries into the. Weaver Bird’s nest and disperse the rightful 
inhabitants. 
The colour of the Sociable Weaver Bird is brown, taking a pale buff tint 
on the under surface of the body, and mottled on the back with the same 
hue. It is quite a small bird, measuring only five inches in length. 
There are several allied species, which are remarkable for the structure of 
their nests. There is the MaAHALI WEAVER BIRD, whose nest is shaped like 
a Florence flask ; the TAHA, the RUFOUS-NECKED WFAVER, and others, all 
of which suspend their nests to the ends of branches that overhang water, 
thus ensuring safety against almost any enemy. 
THE GROSBEAKS or H. W INCHES now claim our attention. They are all 
remarkable for their very large, broad, and thick beaks, a peculiarity of 
construction which is intended to serve them in their seed-crushing habits. 
England possesses a good example of this group in the well-known Haw- 
FINCH, or GROSBEAK. . 
This bird was once thought to be exceedingly scarce, but is now known to 
be anything but unconymon, although it is rarely seen, owing to its very shy 
