NEST OF PLOCEUS ICTEROCEPHALUS. 
189 
(162.) Another very curious fabric, in this order of 
bird architecture, is exhibited in a nest now before us 
(jig. 89). It was brought from Southern Africa, together 
with the male, female, and eggs of a species of Ploceus, or 
weaver, which we have named, 1 ’. icterovephatus.* 'I’he 
nest is somewhat kidney shaped, seven inches long, and 
four and a half broad : it is attached to a very slender 
branch, from which there are four other young shoots, 
which serve as so many holds for its support, and to 
which it is ftrmly fixed by beiidingsof strong grass leaves. 
The whole is very compactly made of the same mate- 
rials, interlaced most ingeniously, and far more firmly, 
than what is seen in the chaffinch or other of our most 
skilful builders : the lining are the heads or panicles of 
the grasses, thus uniting softness and coolness, the latter 
lieing an obvious advantage in so sultry a climate. Ihe 
aperture is lateral, near, but not upon, the top, so that 
it serves the purpose of a window to the inmates ; who 
are sheltered overhead by the convex top of the nest. 
* Male. Above, yellowish olive, brownish in the middle of each fea- 
ther ; beneath, full, deep yellow; head, sides, ears, chin, and throat rufous 
or {buff" yellow, blending into the adjacent colours ; tail, quUls, and wing 
covers brown, the two latter with light yellow margins ; tail very short, 
even ; bill black ; legs pale. 
Femn/e. Head, above, and all the up|)er plumage olive, the feathers 
brownish in the middle -, under jiarts from the chin to the tail covers, and 
margins of the wing feathers, pale yellow ; bill and legs pale. 
anait: Deyonumv »**»»»» j ursi quiu vuiy aniMi • 
one-tenth shorter than the third and lourth, which are the longest. 
