The WEAVER BIRDS (_Plocei_) are large Finches, with bodies somewhat
elongated, having slender, or in some cases, short broad beaks, long
wings, tails of moderate length, and very bright coats, the latter often
varied during the breeding season by a peculiar kind of plumage. Yellow
and yellowish red are usually the principal tints in the coloration of
the feathers; but species are found in which black, red, white, or grey
predominate. The head and face are generally dark, the back greenish
or yellowish red, the lower part of the body dark yellow, or of a
light or dark red. Like other Finches, the Weaver Birds are extremely
social, living, as we have said, in large settlements during the period
of incubation, and flying over the country in company with thousands
of their feathered brethren during the remainder of the year. Immense
damage is done by these swarms to the fields over which they pass, and
about which they remain until the time comes for returning to their old
breeding-places. Shortly after the moulting season the work of building
commences, and several months are generally occupied in diligent labour
before the newly-constructed homes will suit the requirements of the
fastidious owners, who frequently tear a whole nest to pieces, and
entirely recommence their labours, rather than rest content with a
performance that is not quite satisfactory. The nests of the various
species of Weaver Birds differ considerably in their shape and general
structure, some building a detached residence (see p. 165), in which
the male luxuriates, whilst his spouse is busied with the cares of her
family; others, again, are so large as to contain numerous compartments,
the whole colony working so close together as to form, not many separate
nests, but one large establishment (see p. 168). Fibres, slender
twigs, or blades of grass, are the materials usually employed in the
construction of these edifices, the whole being woven tightly together,
after having been rendered more flexible and adhesive by an application
of saliva from the little artist's beak. The greater number of such
settlements are formed of nests containing merely the chamber for the
young and the apartment arranged by the male for his own occupation. Some
males, however, build separate nests for themselves. Both are represented
in our engravings.
[Illustration: NEST OF WEAVER BIRD SLIT OPEN.]
Many tribes of Africans tell wonderful tales about these creatures and
their homes, some of which border upon the marvellous. The Malays have
a saying that "He who can remove a Weaver Bird's nest without breaking
it, will find a golden ball within;" and there is a popular belief in
Africa that the lumps of clay so often found in these little dwellings
are employed by the tenant as a kind of candlestick in which it fastens
the fire-beetle it is supposed to employ to light its tiny apartment
by night. The Weaver Bird lays many times during the year, and feeds
its somewhat numerous family upon insects; these latter, combined with
various kinds of seeds, also constitute the food of the parents. In spite
of the injury done to the fields, but few precautions are taken by the
natives to protect themselves against the depredations of these ingenious
architects, who might live out the full term of their natural life were
it not for the attacks made upon them by their numerous enemies, who
are ever on the watch around their habitations. Our engraving (p. 175)
represents the manner in which the monkey, one of the most formidable
of their foes, obtains its prey. It is in hope of baffling the attempts
of such unwelcome visitants that the Mahali Weaver Birds insert thorns
with the points outwards into the walls of their nests, thus enabling the
occupants to rest quietly, without fear of seeing their young carried
off by snakes and other intruders. Large numbers of these curious and
interesting birds are annually exported and sold at low prices, so that
our readers need have no difficulty in witnessing their constructive
powers, which are often displayed to great advantage in a cage. One of
the most celebrated of this group is