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longevity in tlie cage he is equally admired, but only as a bird of beauty, for lie
offers just as little advantage in song as in facility of nesting. If one begins to
attempt breeding, whilst the male is in its ornamental plumage, he need not
expect any result whatever, for the bird is so much excited that he cannot get
so far as the construction of a nest. If, on the contrary, one brings together a
number in grey feathering, they build and nest, as related of the Napoleon bird.
Yet one chiefly obtains good results if he turns loose only a single pair of old
well acclimatized Fire-Weavers in a bird-room occupied only by ornamental-finches
and other small birds. They are not naturally sociable, and therefore do not
require the companionship of their own species. At anyrate, whether the male
feels himself thus to be lord and master of the entire community, or safe in the
absence of larger birds, he then almost invariably builds nests quickly and well,
and brings up successful broods with one, and indeed even with two or three
females. In the Bird-room of Mr. G. Bamewitz, the dyer in Berlin, a strong
male built, with restless zeal, some twenty nests, and the single female available
nested several times with good results, in spite of the fact that it had a crippled
wing and was only able to hop about in the scrub. Subsequently in like manner
I reared young from all the Fire-Weavers, and breeding them is in fact not so
difficult, if one observes the following rules :—First one must place the male and
several hens together in grey plumage; secondlj^ one must prevent disturbance
due to the disputes of males of the same or allied species; thirdly one must
avoid keeping other larger birds in the same area; fourthly one must supply
plenty of the food mentioned on page 227. (This, in addition to their usual
seed, is said to consist of "mealworms, ants' cocoons, egg-bread, 8LC.") For
building material Agave-fibre as well as threads of cotton and bast are gladly
used, as also fresh grass-stalks. The nest, in the Bird-room, is almost always
globular with the entrance hole placed laterally in the upper portion and
very ornamentally woven separately of Agave-fibres. The eggs are shining
greenish blue and very round; Von Heuglin's statement that they are marked
must be based upon a blunder. Altogether the Orange-Weaver has been but
little bred up to the present time."
Dr. Russ states that this species is peaceable, both in store-cage and Birdroom,
towards smaller birds ; but when in colour, drives all other birds from
the neighbourhood of its dwelling, and wages violent warfare with males of
its own or allied species. In this respect my present male does not follow
the general rule, its warfare is mere make-believe of the mildest and most
innocent description; possibly it may be awed by the presence of larger and
The Orange Weaver. 311
more powerful Weavers, such as the Baya, Comoro, and Madagascar Weavers,
in the same aviary.
Illustrations from living examples in the author's collection.
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