Indian Birds 



III. BROWN 



The number of birds of which the predomi- 

 nating hue is brownish is very considerable, 

 and as these usually have nothing striking 

 about their appearance, they are among the 

 most difficult birds to identify. Birds which 

 appear to be a uniform earthy brown will be 

 found on closer inspection almost invariably 

 to be brighter in hue below than above. This 

 is largely counteracted by the fact that the 

 lower parts are in the shade. Most birds 

 which look a uniform earthy brown are in 

 reality a cream colour below, and are described 

 as such in systematic works on ornithology. 

 But as this book is intended for the field 

 naturalist, I shall describe them as they appear 

 to the ordinary observer. 



I. Birds whose general hue is earthy brown 



(a) Those smaller than the sparrow 



I. The Indian Tailor Bird (28). (This flits 

 about among the leaves. The note is a loud 

 to-wee, to-wee, to-wee. When the bird calls a 

 small black band may be seen at each side of 

 the neck. In the breeding season the two 

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