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 THE TAILOR-BIRD 



The Tailor-bird with few exceptions is one of the commonest, 

 and for its size noisiest little bird we have out here, every compound 

 having two or three couples, which can be heard at all hours of the 

 day, as they are very busy little people, always on the move, and 

 continually calling with loud monotonous notes. 



They are chiefly remarkable for the wonderful little j'.ests they 

 contrive, sewing the edo-es of two or more leaves together, so forming 

 a regular pocket, inside which is placed a neat litcle nest of cotton 

 and clown. They do not seem particular as to the height from the 

 ground at which the nest is constructed. As these may often be 

 found amongst crotons and other shrubs in gardens and verandahs, 

 while again at other times they choose big-leaved trees for their 

 tailoring operations. 



A pair one 2 built in a tree opposite one of my upstair windows, 

 where they brought up their small family. Within a week of the > 

 latter having vacated their home, the old birds started buildincr a 

 new nest, a few feet from the old one, this last was unfortunately 

 destroyed by crows. 



They are small dull-greenish little birds, about five inches in 

 length, having a chestnut cap in the head, and a small concealed 

 black spot on each side of the neck, only noticeable when the 

 bird is calling. During the breeding season, v/hich is practically 

 tliroughout the rains, the cockbird grows two long tail feathers. 

 They lay two types of eggs, either white, or blue with with red 

 spots. 



(No. 374. Orthotomus sutorious.) 



THE RUFOUS FAN-TAILEO WARBLER. 



Is the small dark brown bird of the padJy-fields, which is always 

 proclaiming its presence as it flies, at a considerable height from 

 the ground, by its loud "tick, ticking^' calls, as if two stones were 

 being knocked together. 



It is about four-and-a-half inches in length, with white tips to its 

 tail feathers, its under parts light coloured. 



This is another wonderful little artisan in the way it builds its 

 nest. It always chooses a suitable clump of grass and begins by 

 sewmg the blades together near the tips, so as to form an inverted 

 cone or small tent. Inside this wigwam it builds a neat little 

 cup-shaped nest, and lays four small white eggs spotted with red. 

 It is one of the hardest nests to find, as while the bird is building, 

 the grass has bean growing up all round, and by the time the eggs 

 are laid there is nothing to show except a thick clump of grass. 



Burmese name — Nat-pi-hsot. 

 ^No. 381. Cisticola cursitans.] 



