The FLAME-COLOURED FIRE FINCH (_Euplectes ignicolor_) in the construction
of its body closely resembles the Taha, from which, however, it differs
entirely in the colour of its plumage. The coat of the male is extremely
soft, and its whole surface, except the wing and tail feathers, of a
bright black or fiery red. Except during the breeding season the male
and female are alike dressed in a modest garb of brown, which is so
completely changed when pairing time arrives as to differ not merely
in colour, but in the softness and texture of the feathers; the wings
and tail alone remaining unaltered. When clothed in all its glory the
male bird is black upon the top of the head, the cheeks, breast, and
belly; the other parts of the body being bright red; the wings exhibit a
brownish shade, owing to the somewhat paler edges of the feathers. During
this season the tail-covers become of such unusual length as almost to
conceal the tail. The eye is brown, the beak black, and the feet brownish
yellow. The body of the female is brown above, and of a yellowish shade
beneath; a yellow line passes over the eyes, and the feet and beak are
horn coloured.
[Illustration: NESTS OF SOUTH AFRICAN WEAVER BIRDS.]
The Fire Finch inhabits the whole country from the middle of Nubia to
the interior of Central Africa, preferring such places as are in the
vicinity of man, frequenting fields of corn, and only taking up its
quarters in beds of grass or reeds when other accommodation is not
attainable. A field of _durrah_ is a veritable Eden to these birds, who
cause much injury to the natives, often completely destroying the crops,
in spite of the many devices employed to scare them away; for these
bold-hearted little thieves are not to be deterred from their work of
destruction either by the dancing of dolls or rattling of clappers. The
Fire Finch exhibits great activity; when amongst the corn it resembles
a Reed Sparrow rather than a Finch in its movements, as it climbs up
and down the stalks, or hides itself among the grass. When the period
of incubation is over, and the harvests are gathered in, the fields
that have afforded them food are deserted, and some time is then passed
in flying about the country, after the manner of their congeners. This
species of Weaver Bird can scarcely be said to form settlements, each
couple building somewhat apart from the rest. The nest is constructed
of stalks and blades of grass woven so loosely together that the little
brood are often visible through the lattice-work of their cradle, which
is either placed upon the ground in a bed of grass, or fastened to
the higher stalks. Considerable difference is observable in the size
and shape of these nests, some being long, some round; few, however,
exceed seven or eight inches in length, and five or six in breadth. Our
illustration represents the _Euplectes Petiti_, a very similar species to
that just described, except that the whole of the lower part of the bird
is black.
[Illustration: THE FIRE FINCH (_Euplectes Petiti_).]
* * * * *
The BUFFALO WEAVER BIRDS (_Textor_) constitute a group well deserving our
notice, and are distinguished by their large size, thick, conical beak,
which is unusually thick at its base, long, abruptly-rounded wings, and
slightly rounded tail.