Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-09-14
BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS
soCIABeE WEAVER BIRDS.

Sociable Weaver Birds are found in
several parts of Africa. There is moth
ing remarkable in their appearance,
bnt the singular edifice which they
20 astruct as n joint home for all the
community has always been a source
OF interest aud admiration to travel
lers. These large social nests are gen.
orally built in the branches of a species
of acac air known as the giraffe
thorn, from tie fact that these animals
find in its foliage plentiful supply of
their favorite food.
The structure of the nest is very re-
markable. When about to build, the
birds gather together large quantities
Of dry grasses, the favoTite species
beng the long, tough, wiry kind,
known as bushman's grass. They then
hang these long stems over the
branches, Interviewing them in deI-
ferrous manner as they proceed with the
work, until they have formed large
dome or roof, not unlike the shape Of
a huge mushroom, under the shelter
of which each bird then constructs it's
own separate nests. These nests are
suspended from the lower side of the
thatch; they are each about four inches
in diameter, and are placed in the
closest proximity to each other, with
the mouth of the nest downward. 1t
has been said by travellers that many
hundreds of these separate nests have
been found under one roof, and yet
the birds seem to dwell together in
perfect friendship.
As these birds will not use the same
nests the folio ing season, the num-
Der of nests is increased year by year,
until it sometimes happens that the
weight of the bird city is too much for
the branches to which 1t is fastened,
and they give way altogether, so that
the whole editice tumbles to the
ground, and the poor little weavers
are forced to seek shelter elsewhere.
1t is very probable that these birds
dwell thus in Immunity from desire
to protect themselves from the attacks
of the many enemies to bird life which
are found in tropical regions. OF
these enemies the most persistent and
formidable are snakes and monkeys.
There is also a small parrot, itself
iweller In communities, which often
makes a raid against the sociable
weaver birds, and drives them from
their dwelling.
The number of eggs in each weaver's
nest is from three to FIVE; they are of
bluish-white color spotted with brown.
The sociable weaver bird is not very
gay in its attire, a sober brown being
the prevailing color of its plumage,
with pale buff tint on the under sur
lace of the body. 1t is quite small
bird, only about five inches in length.
Another of the many African weav-
srs, sometimes known as the yellow
oriole builds its nest IN different style
altogether. They also are very soci-
able birds, and as soon as they have
liked upon a suitable locality (which
always near water), they begin to
ouild with such untiring industry,
hat in a wonderfully short time sew
,ral hundred separate nests will be
suspended from about a dozen trees,
al close to eacn other.
These nests are attached to the most
lender part of the branches, and gen
rally are found overhanging the wa
jer, which thus serves as protection
rom their enemies. In building, these
birds suspend some stout grass from
:he branch so as to hang downwards;
his they weave into a slender but very
irong cord; they then construct the
upper part of the nest, which is globu-
ar IN shape, thickly and firmly built.
At the lower part it contracts to
leck, which serves as the entrance to
his singular home. 1t sometimes hap
oens that n small! monkey shows his
nquisitive face in the near neighbour
hood of these birds; when this is the
case the whole community unite to
chase the intruder away, indulging at
he same time in much kissing and
lngry chatter, which always has the
desired effec of ridding themselves of
IN unpleasst neighbour.
We must now speed away from Africa
70 the luxuriant Philippine Islands,
where another species of weaver bird is
found, which also possesses very re-
markable architectural skill. This
bird builds curiously beautiful, pen
dent nest, composed of compactly
woven grass, and suspended by long
cord over some water. The nest is
divided into two compartments, one
for the male and another for the female,
an opening being left at the bottom by
which the birds may reach their re-
spective chambers. It is asserted by
the natives that the male bird pIasters
piece of soft clay on the walls of his
apartment, to which he attaches fire.
fly by way of providing himself with
night-lIghtl Most persons, however.
will feel, that before such statement
could be believed it would require tn
be well authenticated.
ID. b. McKEAN.