.'J(J8 



THE TKOriCAL WORLD. 



formed in a very ingenious manner by long grass woven 

 together in the shape of a bottle, and suspended by so slender a 

 tliread to tlie end of a flexible branch that even the squirrel 

 dare not venturfe his body on so fragile a support, however his 

 mouth may water at the eggs and prey within. These nests 

 contain several apartments, appropriated to different purposes : 

 in one the hen performs the office of incubation ; another, con- 

 sisting of a little thatched roof and covering a perch without a 

 bottom, is occupied by the male, who cheers the female with 



TUK TAILOR BIRDS. 



his chirping note. The Hindoos are very fond of these birds 

 for their docility and sagacity ; when young, they teach them 

 to fetch and carry, and at the time the young women resort to 

 the public fountains their lovers instruct the baya to pluck the 

 tica or golden ornament from the forehead of their favourite 

 and bring it to their master. 



The Tailor-bird of Hindostan (^Sylvia sutoria) is equally 

 curious in the structure of its nest, and far superior in the 

 elegance and variety of its plumage, which in the male glows 

 with the varied tints of the colibri. Selecting a suitable leaf, 



