244 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Paroaria which, when courting, plucked their breasts nearly bare 

 of feathers ; whether this was to show their bravery, or to offer 

 building materials for the new home, I never could determine ; it 

 certainly did not render them more attractive to me, however it 

 may have struck the hen Cardinals. 



Among the Weaving-Finches (Ploceidce) dancing is common, 

 and the attitudes assumed by some of the species when singing 

 and dancing to their mates are very ludicrous. The genera of 

 Ploceidce, if judged by their habits and songs, are strangely com- 

 mingled in systematic works ; but to the aviculturist they readily 

 sort themselves into the groups known as Waxbills, of which 

 Estrilda is the typical genus ; Grass-Finches (= Amadina), and 

 many others ; Mannikins, of which Munia is typical ; Whydahs 

 = Vidua and allies ; and true Weavers — Ploceus, Pyromelana, 

 &c. The true Waxbills, when showing off and singing, usually 

 take a long grass- stem in their beaks, grasp the perch firmly, 

 look straight upwards, and raise themselves jerkily up and down, 

 uttering a shrill chirp, and finishing with a short song. The 

 Grass-Finches depress the beak when dancing, and frequently 

 sway from side to side ; many of them also hold a long grass-stem 

 in their beaks; some sing clearly, others almost inaudibly, uttering 

 a weak sibilant song. 



The Mannikins behave much like the Grass-Finches, but 

 their tails are spread out fanwise, and they hop sideways, turning 

 from right to left as they approach the hen ; their songs are 

 sometimes clear, but more frequently are a mere weak vibrant 

 humming, with a few creaky notes, and a final prolonged reedy 

 whistle. The Whydahs court hovering, rising and falling with 

 loud beatings of the wings above the perched hen. The action 

 of these birds reminds one forcibly of that of gnats sporting in a 

 swarm ; it is extremely graceful. The song, which is harsh and 

 unpleasant, seems to be chiefly used as a war-cry. By its habits 

 the little Ultramarine Finch (Hypochera) is undoubtedly a 

 Whydah with short upper tail-coverts, and is, in my opinion, 

 related to Vidua hypocherina. The typical Weavers, although 

 belonging to two groups, separated by scientists under the sub- 

 families Ploceiiue and Viduince, have many peculiarities in com- 

 mon. They depend greatly upon their brilliant plumage, and 

 the expansion of their crests, ruffs, and flank-plumes for attraction 



