242 
Some Birds I have Kept. 
not commencing a serial article, and I am choosing species 
which I hope may prove of general interest. 
Wkavers : ( )f these I have successfully bred the follow- 
ing" species : 
Red-billed Weaver (Quelca queica). 
Napoleon Weaver (Pyronielana afra). 
Taha Weaver (/'. taha). 
Crimson-crowned Weaver (P. faiiimiccps ). 
1 have also kept Orange, Madagascar, Grenadier, Half- 
masked, Black-fronted, Speke's, Rufous-necked, Black-headed, 
( .^'Iden, and Brown-backed Weavers, etc.; but th.ese have not 
bred with me. Though, in the nesting season I have found 
them all to be of a somewhat obstreperous demeanour, yet 1 
have not found them to be of a murderous disposition; though, 
undoubtedly, they have disturbed the more cpiietly disposed, I 
have not found them either to attack or seriously chase about 
any of their fellow captives, and at the present time I have a 
cock Rufous-necked Weaver (a reputedly pugnacious species) 
in my large aviary, which contains a very mixed series of birds, 
but, undoubtedly, this s])ecies and also the Orange and Mada- 
gascar Weavers have wrought considerable havoc in more than 
one aviary, so. as regards these three species the aviarist must 
ascertain the demeanour of his individual specimens before 
considering them safe members of his mixed series, especially 
so if the aviary be but a small one. 
( )ne of the chief charms of the Weaver-family is that they 
are nearly all subject to an eclipse plumage, i.e.. at the end of the 
breeding season they shed their gorgeous nuptial, many-hued 
garment, for a very modest one of various shades of brown. 
\^ eavers are a grand sight in a roomy garden aviary during the 
breeding season, and their exuberant obstroperousness but 
adds to the charm, and keeps them always " in the picture." 
Again, another point of interest is the wonderful nests 
they weave, varying to some extent in shape and size with each 
s;)ecies. They are indefatigable builders, and odd males are 
just as busily occupied in this respect as truly mated pairs, 
though a bachelor's nest is seldom carried to the point of com- 
pletion, yet his constructions make snug night quarters, not 
only for himself, but for many other birds, for he builds in the 
