W E A V I N G FINCHES.
^ ^ r E now come to a geuus of small and nearly allied birds, the position of
wliich has not been satisfactorily- settled by scientific Ornithologists.
As already pointed ont; Dr. Sliarpe, ^vhilst he temporarily refers Plionipara to
the Grosbeaks ; expresses the .opinion that it may prove to be a Bunting. But is
it not possible that it maj' be an aberrant group of the allied family of Weavers ?
One of the characteristics of the FringHIidcE is, that thejr build open cup-shaped
nests : the Ploccidce, on the other hand, construct domed, cave-shaped, or inverted
bottle-shaped nests. The species of Phonipara make domed or ca^-e-like nests, the
hole being at the front and rather large.
As an amateur, rather than a scientific student of Ornithology ; this fact,
taken in conjunction with its small size and great activity, would lead me to place
the Melodious Finch and its allies close to the Waxbills: possibly it is one of
those numerous transitional forms, which the student of every branch of Natural
Science is constantly meeting with, and which ruin the best laid schemes for a
satisfactory linear classification.*
I therefore place Phonipara at the end of the Fringillida: and immediately
before the Ploceida;; commencing the latter family ^^-ith the Waxbills, the majority
of ^\'hich were formerly placed in the genus " Estrclda" or Esirilda as it is now
called.
I t is true that the species of Passer form purse- or bag-shaped nests ; which,
superiicially resemble those of the Weavers ; but the entrance to a Sparrow's nest
is at the top : in fact the construction of such a nest is practically a cup-.shape,
\rith the sides produced upwards and contracted towards the ultimate opening : in
the case of the European Tree-Sparrow, which, builds in hollow trees, the contraction
is very slight and the opening is consequently proportionately wide.
* o f cour.se a linear classification is hopelessly unnatural, but it is the only one which can be practically folloued
in Catalogue and Cabinet.
u i !i
I f
" I I
! i
Sj- J'Ji
!
• • r
MS