P. textor, Cur. Vieil. Orioles textor, Lin. Lath. &c. Weaver or Weaver Oriole. Fulvous yellow, head brown, with a shade of golden ; quill and tail-feathers blackish, edged with fulvous. The young do not acquire their full colouring till two years; and the shadings of the adult birds vary considerably, according to the season. The weaver is somewhat less than the starling, and is found in Senegal, and in the kingdoms of Congo and Cacongo. It utters a singular and cheerful note, and attempts to con struct its curious nest even in confinement.
P. .46yssinicus, Cuv. P. Baglafecht, Vieil. Loxia Abyssinica, Gmel. Loxia Philippensis, var. Lath. Beg lafecht Abyssinian Weaver, or Abyssinian Grossbeak. Yellow, with the crown, cheeks, throat, and breast, black; wings and tail brown. Size of the hawfinch, and a native of Abyssinia. This bird forms an ingenious nest, of a pyramidal shape, which is suspended from threads of branches, like the nest of some others of this tribe. 'flee opening is on one side, facing the east, being opposite to that from which the rain proceeds; the cavity is separated in the middle, by a partition of half its height, up which the bird mounts perpendicularly, and then, descending on the other side, forms its nest in the further chamber. By these means the brood is defended from snakes, squirrels, monkeys, and other mischievous animals, besides being secured from the rains, which, in that country, sometimes lasts for five or six months together.
P. pensilis, Cur. P. .Velicourvi, Vieil. Loxia Pen sill:, Lin. Lath. Pensile Weaver, or Pensile Grossbeak.
Green above, grey beneath ; vent rufous, with the head and lower parts of the neck yellow; quills and tail feathers black. Size of the common sparrow, above five inches in
length, and a native of Madagascar. It constructs a hang ing nest of straw and reeds, shaped like a bag, with an opening beneath, on one side of which is the true nest. The bird does not choose a new situation every year, but fastens a fresh nest to the end of the last, so that five may some times be seen hanging from one another ; and no fewer than four or five hundred may be sometimes observ ed on a single tree. This species seldom produces more than three young at a brood.
P. socius, Coy. Loxia sociu, Lin. Lath. Sociable Weaver, Sociable Grossbeak, or Republican. Reddish brown above, yellowish beneath ; capistrum black ; tail short. About the size of a bullfinch. Inhabits the inte rior parts of the Cape of Good Hope, where it was first discos ered by Mr. Paterson. These birds build their nests in a species of Mimosa, which grows to an uncommon size, and which, from its ample head, and strong wide spreading branches, is well calculated to admit and sup port their dwellings. The tallness and smoothness of its trunk are also a perfect defence against the invasions of the serpent and monkey tribes. In one tree disco vered by Mr. Paterson, there could not be fewer than from 800 to 1000 nests under one general roof. Mr. Paterson calls it a roof, because it resembles that of a thatched house, and projects over the entrance of the nest below in a very singular manner. This species also constructs its nest on the acacia trees, and on the .4Ioe dichotornes, which grows to a very large size. Mr. Barrow notices one of them which had steps cut out on its sides, to enable a person to climb up to the nests.