THE TAILOR-BIRD 27 



though it may seem, this distribution of colour causes 

 an animal to be less conspicuous than it would be were 

 it of a uniform brown hue. 



This is proved by the following experiment conducted 

 at the Natural History Museum, South Kensington. 

 In a square box, lined with grey flannel, are placed two 

 bird models, which are covered with flannel of the same 

 hue as that which lines the box. One model is painted 

 dark above and white below, the other is left un- 

 coloured, or, rather, is grey all over. The uncoloured 

 bird is the more conspicuous. The painted bird, by 

 counteracting the normal light and shade, becomes at 

 two yards' distance almost invisible. This may be one 

 of the reasons why so many birds, beasts, and fishes are 

 darker in colour above than below. 



But to return to the description of the tailor-bird. 

 In the breeding season, that is to say, from April to 

 August, the two middle tail-feathers of the cock bird 

 grow to a greater length than the others and project two 

 inches beyond them as sharp bristles. 



Such then are tailor-birds, of which a dozen or more 

 are to be seen in almost every garden in the plains of 

 India, flitting and hopping about among the shrubs and 

 plants looking for insects, and giving vent to their note, 

 which may be syllabized as to-wit, to-wit, to-wit, or 

 pretty, pretty, pretty. The sound varies greatly with 

 the individual. Some people object to the call of 

 the tailor-bird ; they complain that it " gets on their 

 nerves." 



Personally, I would not willingly miss the joyous 

 note from the bird-chorus, although I am prepared to 



