Gail Rhyne, age 10, of Dallas, North Carolina, for her question:

Where is the weaverbird found?

There are about 260 cousins of the weaverbird clan and most of them prefer life in warm or tropical lands. Countless big and little birds build exquisite nests, but the weaverbirds are considered the champions of them all. At least, this is true of most of the weaverbirds. They are sociable birds and some of them live in colonies and build their' handsome nests in neighboring trees. A certain African weaverbird prefers apartment house living. With his wife and perhaps 30 other couples, he selects a thorny acacia tree on the arid plains of South Africa. Together, the colony builds a community house ten feet tall and eight feet wide. It is expertly woven from roots and grasses and each couple has its own quarters.

Many Asian countries have their weaverbirds, each type building its own artistic nest. But, like many elegant clans, the weaverbirds have less worthy relatives. And sad to say, one of their shabby cousins lives in North America. He is our common house sparrow

 who is no relative of our dainty song sparrows. No doubt the elegant weaverbirds of the tropics would be ashamed to be associated with our raggedy, bad mannered house sparrow if they chanced to meet him.