THE LIVING WORLD. 
359 
also has the advantage of massive and heavy foliage disposed in masses not 
unlike the general shape of the weaver birds' nest. Sometimes, however, and 
especially near the banks of the Orange river, the bird is obliged to put up 
with a more lowly seat, 
and contents itself 
with the arborescent 
aloe. The number of 
eggs in each nest is 
usually from three to 
five, and their color 
is bluish-white, dotted 
towards the larger 
end with small brown 
spots. The food of 
this bird seems to con¬ 
sist mostly of insects, 
as when the nests are 
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 
parrots, who also 
delight in assembling 
together in society, 
and will sometimes 
make forcible entries 
into the weaver birds' 
nest and disperse the 
rightful inhabitants. 
The color 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, measur¬ 
ing only five inches nest of jtpuba cassicus. 
in length. 
The Satin Bower Bird ( Ptilonorhynchus halosericeus ) is a 
starling family, whose habitat is Australia. In some respects 
member of the 
it is the most 
remarkable of birds, not for the nest it builds, as this yet remains to be dis- 
