Indian Birds 



The tailor bird is essentially a denizen of 

 the compound, and frequently nests in the 

 verandah. The nest is a wonderful structure. 

 The walls are growing leaves, the edges of 

 which the bird draws together by means ol 

 cotton or fibre. The nest is cosily lined with 

 cotton-down. The tailor bird pierces in places 

 the leafy wall of its nest and pushes some of 

 the lining through these tiny apertures in order 

 to keep the lining in situ. The nest should be 

 looked for in the hot weather. (Illus. B. B., 

 p. 103 ; also G. B., p. 64.) 



29. Hypolais rama : Sykes's Tree- warbler. 



(F.394),(J-S53X(-I-) 



This, too, is a dull-coloured little brownie 



bird. It visits India in great numbers in the 

 winter, and is said to breed in Sind. In 

 colouring it is much like the tailor bird, but it 

 is more solidly built and has a narrow cream- 

 coloured eyebrow. A little brown bird which 

 is not the tailor bird, or one of the wren- 

 warblers described below, is likely to be this 

 species. 



30. Prinia lefida : The Streaked Wren- 

 warbler. (F. 462), (J. 550), ( - I.) 



Brown above and cream-coloured below. 

 This little bird is easily distinguished from the 

 108 



