WEAVER-BIRD, Ploceus, a genus of bird of the finch family (frinetidcs), of a group or sub-family (ploceimr), to most of which the name weaver-bird is extended. The name has reference to the remarkable structure of the nests of these birds, which are woven in a very wonderful manner of various vegetable substances, and are objects of great interest. The ploceina' are natives of the warmer parts of Asia, of Africa, and of Australia; none being found in Europe nor in America. The species are numerous. They are small birds, with a strong conical bill, the ridge of which is slightly curved, the tip entire. The claws are large and very long. The wings are pointed. the first quill remarkably short. There is great diversity in the form and appearance of the nests constructed by different species. One of1 -es.--DOIVII species is the PHILIPPINE WEAVER (P. Philippinus), the bays (q.v.) of India. Many of the other weaver-birds construct nests pretty much on the same plan with this—pouches elongated into tubes, entering from below; those of some are kidney shaped, and the entrance is in the side. They very generally suspend their nests in the same way from the extremeties of branches, and often prefer branches which hang over water, probably as affording further security against monkeys, squirrels, snakes, and other enemies. Social habits are very prevalent among them, and many nests of the same species are often found close together. Some of them attach the nest of one year to that of the year preceding,
as the ploexus pensilis of r, .Madagascar, which sometimes thus makes five nests in succes sion, one hanging to another. ''Soine of the African species build their nests in com pany, the whole forming one structure. Thus, the SOCIAL or REPUBLICAN weaver bird of south Africa (plocevs socitis or philotterus lepidus) constructs a kind of umbrella like roof, under which 800 or 1000 nests have been found, the nests like the cells of a honeycomb, and arranged with wonderful regularity. An acacia with straight, smooth stein, such as predaceous animals cannot easily climb, is often selected by the bird-com munity. When the situation is chosen, the birds begin by constructing the roof, which is made of coarse grass, each pair afterward build their own nest, which is attached to the roof. As new nests are built every year, the weight of the structure often becomes so great as to break down its support. Textor erythrorhynchus is a bird of the weaver group, which is commonly seen in south Africa accompanying herds of buffaloes, and feeding on the hots and other insects which infest them, alighting on their backs to pick them out of the hide. The bird is often of great use to the buffalo in another way, by giving warning of the approach of an enemy. The whydaw birds (q.v,) or widow birds, likewise belong to the group of ploeeince.