302 SPOLIA ZBYLANICA. 



selected site the bird has to content itself with smaller leaves, and 

 it sews two or more of these together. The nest, which is thus a 

 kind of purse or pocket, is well lined with bits of cotton, thread, coir 

 fibre, wool, and small roots. As soon as the nursery is ready, three, 

 four, or five diminutive eggs are laid in it. The tailor bird, like 

 several other species, lays more than one type of eggs. In some 

 cases there are three varieties : those with a white background with 

 red blotches, those whose surface is white and but faintly speckled 

 with red, and those which have a bluish background blotched 

 with red. 



The tailor bird nest and three young ones mounted for exhibition 

 were found by Mr. G. M. Henry, the Laboratory Assistant, in one of 

 the canna beds at the Museum grounds, and the other tailor birds 

 were presented by Master Eric Fernando. 



Colombo Museum, September, 1912. H. F. FERNANDO. 



34. " Rhipidura alhifrontata" {White-browed Fantail Flycatcher). 

 — The " Fantail " is chiefly an inhabitant of the dry jungle region 

 between the Haputale mountains and the south-east coast, the 

 eastern portion of the low-country as far as the delta of the Mahaweli- 

 ganga, and the Province of Uva. In the first-named tract of country 

 it is more common than elsewhere, frequenting the jungle on the 

 borders of tanks. In Uva it is found chiefly on tree -dotted patanas ; 

 and in the Eastern Province, coconut topes in the vicinity of villages. 

 It is rare to the west of Tangalla and Hambantota Districts. 



Jerdon says : " It is found all over India except lower Bengal, 

 extending to the foot of the Himalayas. It is most common in 

 Malabar and Deccan, and it is not rare in the North-west Provinces 

 and in Sind." 



This showy little bird is one of the most interesting of our 

 flycatchers ; it frequents little groves of trees or those standing 

 on patanas and cultivated ground, jungle on the borders of tanks, 

 and open grassy glades. 



It is a fearless species, and when not paired for breeding is usually 

 of solitary habit. At this time its manners are most amusing ; for 

 the male, in his endeavour to attract the attention of his consort, 

 displays a nature much akin to that of the peacock. He will some- 

 times alight on a tree close to a bystander, and proceed with a 

 measured little pace, with an outspreading movement of its wings, 

 combined with an expanding and contracting of its long tail. 

 Elegance marks every moment of the fantail flycatcher. It runs 

 swiftly among the branches, and every now and then makes a pretty 

 bow and spreads its tail, then suddenly it will make a little sally in 

 the air, and return with easy sweep to the place whence it started. 

 In grace of movement a fantail flycatcher is nearly equal to a 

 wagtail. 



