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395 Foreign Fijiches in. Captivity.
" It is a veiy common bird tlirougliout tlie coloii}^ aiTecting indiscriminatehthe
solitary \iey (morass) in tlie midst of tlie veldt (open uncultivated countr}'),
or the homestead of the farmer. During the breeding season it is seen about
reeds, among which it breeds; placing its nest with great art, so as to include
in its structure three or four of the firmest and most upright stems, which
support it like pillars. The male generally perches on the topmost twigs of the
bushes mingled with the reeds, or on the heads of the reeds themselves ; and
his brilliant j-ellow rump, contrasting with his otherwise intensely black plumage,
render him peculiarly conspicuous."
" In Natal Mr. Aj'res says that they frequent more particularly the hills
fifteen or twenty miles inland ; the}' are found in small companies in the open
fields, and feed principally on grass seeds."
" Mr. Andersson gives the following note :—This is a comparatively scarce
bird in Daniara and Great Namaqua Land, but is very abundant at Lake Ngami;
it sometimes occurs in large flocks in the open countrj--, and is also found in
small communities in the neighbourhood of water and in humid situations, where
it breeds, constructing its uest of strong grasses and suspending it between the
stalks of two or three reeds."
In the first edition of Layard's work we read:—" Having kept several in
cages, I am enabled to describe the moult which takes place. The first thing
which changes is the bill ; the black commences to show at the tip of the lower
mandible, which gj-adually darkens, from the usual horn-colour to the deepest
black; before this is accomplished the upper mandible has begun to blacken, and
a few black feathers are visible round the neck; the breast next shows a change and
a feather or two on the back darkens, and thus bj- degrees the whole bird changes
to its splendid black. This transformation commences about July and is complete
in September, which is the nesting season. The moult back again begins in the
same manner. This species lives well in cages. I had one which had been about
six years in confinement, and effected his escape after all, from the warping of
his cage-bottom, owing to its being exposed to the sun after my pet had enjoyed
his bath. He would come to the cage-bars whenever my wife approached them,
his long legs drawn out to their full extent, his bright eye glittei-ing even in
the midst of his deep black plumage, watching for his morsel of bread. On his
being addressed as ' Fink^ he instantly replied, stretching his neck to the utmost,
and uttering the most piercing discordant shriek. We used to laugh, and say
he would some da}' dislocate his neck in his attempts to sing, in rivalry to the
canaries.
The Yellozu-Shouldered Weaver. 297
"After his bath, or when enraged, which was pretty often, he would erect
the feathers of the back at right angles to his body, and then looked beautiful,
the light shining through the brilliant yellow, setting it off to great advantage.
The nest is constructed of grasses, and is domed, with an entrance near the
centre. The eggs, four or fiive in number, are pale verditer, thickly marked
everywhere with greenish-brown blotches and spots : axis, 10" ; diameter, 7"."
Dr. Russ observes :—" If one has the good luck to acquire a genuine pair,
they proceed to breed with unusual facility compared with the other Fire-
Weavers, and this is due to the fact that this bird is steadier, is by no means
so violentl}' excited as his allies. Without entering into details, the nest is constructed
anywhere in dense scrub, and forms a tolerably deep, bulky, oval-round
purse. Eggs greenish blue; duration of ineubation fifteen days."
It looks almost as though the Doctor had not kept this species; since he
gives so short an account of its nidification ; he says, moreover;—"By the dealers
also called Greater or Double Napoleon-bird; this Fire-Weaver is far more rarely
obtainable and ever so much less beautiful than the smaller one."
I have seen the bird from time to time at Mr. Abrahams', but was never
tempted to purchase it; because, in the first place, its beauty did not strike me
as sufficiently great to compensate for its harsh song; and, in the second place,
its size and strength would almost necessitate its having a good sized aviary to
itself, which I could not spare. That it is inclined to be spiteful to smaller
associates I have witnessed at Mr. Abrahams' on several occasions.
Illustrations from skins in the Natural History Museum.
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