AVICULTUBAL EXPERIENCES. 257 



generally constructed by the males in the Fire-Weavers (Pyro- 

 meloena), and in the Yellow and Black African Weavers (Hyphan- 

 tornis) ; by the females" in the Whydahs {Vidua and allies) ; by 

 both sexes in Ploceus, although the female only comes in at the 

 finish to assist the male in forming the cup for the reception of 

 the eggs. 



It is certainly a most interesting sight to notice how a 

 Hyphantornis, with beak and claw, commences his snail-shell- 

 shaped nest, attaching it to the wirework over the top of an 

 aviary. He is so quick in passing an end of grass through the 

 wire, holding it with one claw, then with his beak pulling it back 

 through the next mesh. But the true Weavers are marvellous; 

 they are born architects, and delight in their work as many an 

 old lady does in knitting. 



It is instructive to watch Waxbills (Estrilda and allies) at 

 work — the female inside the nest, the male outside — alternately 

 passing the end of a grass-stem backwards and forwards, until 

 a strongly-laced, but semitransparent, globe is formed, with 

 entrance-hole in front (but not invariably with depressed entrance- 

 shaft leading to it). And, speaking of this netting instinct in 

 Weavers, reminds me that among the cup-builders there is a 

 group of very clever Weavers (Spermophila) , whose nests are 

 suspended between twigs, and formed of fine tough fibre. I 

 supplied my birds with fine willow-fibre, and the delicate lace- 

 like nests, of which unfortunately I did not preserve a specimen, 

 were beautiful little works of art. 



How does a bird learn to build the nest which is characteristic 

 of its species, its genus, or its family? Charles Dixon asserted 

 that the young bird remembered and copied the nest in which it 

 was reared — that its gifts were not instinctive. On the other 

 hand, I assert that a bird, by seeing the inside of its parents' 

 nest, could not understand how it was formed inside, much less 

 outside ; and that experiment proves conclusively that it does 

 not necessarily form its nest on the pattern of that in which it 

 was reared. 



Charles Dixon speaks of a Chaffinch introduced into 

 New Zealand which built a long tapering nest, somewhat re- 

 sembling that of one of the native birds of that country, as 

 evidence of the truth of his statement. Seebohm, however, in 



Zool. 4th ser. vol. VI., July, 1902. % 



