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loud reiterated note, and picking various insects (chiefly ants and 
small larve) off the bark and leaves, and not unfrequently seeking 
them on the ground. It has the habit of frequently jerking up its 
tail while feeding or hopping about, and at times (especially when 
calling) it has the power of raising the feathers on the lower part of 
the throat, and displaying on either side a small black stripe. This 
has been noted by no one except Lieut. Hutton, who states, ‘it is 
only seen when the bird is in motion, and wholly disappears when in 
a state of rest.’ It has various notes, one of which sounds like twee, 
twee, twee, as mentioned by Col. Sykes, and another which is gene- 
rally used when alarmed or angry, and sounds like chick, chick, chick, 
chicky, chick. It is a familiar bird, and ventures close to houses, 
but when observed becomes wary.” —Jerdon. 
Dr. Nicholson says, “It has a loud, short, and not unmelodious 
song; its general ery being ‘wheet, wheet, wheet,’ often repeated ; 
but its alarm cry is like ‘ cheertah, cheertah, cheertah.’”’ 
The following are a few observations on the structure of two speci- 
mens of the nest of the Tailor Bird, found in the garden belonging 
to Capt. Hearsey, by Lieut. Hutton: ‘The first was neatly formed 
of raw cotton and bits of cotton threads, woven strongly together, 
thickly lined with horse-hair, and supported between two leaves on a 
twig of the Amaltds tree (Cassia fistula). These two leaves were 
first placed longitudinally upon each other, and stitched in that posi- 
tion from the points to rather more than halfway up the sides with 
a strong thread spun from the raw cotton by the bird, leaving the 
entrance to the nest at the point where they join the branch of the 
tree. Both of these leaves were of course green and living. Subse- 
quently, however, they were blown down by a high wind, and bemg 
now withered, the nest appears enclosed between two dead leaves. 
The second specimen was at the end of a branch of the Bhela (Seme- 
carpus anacardium), about two feet from the ground, and constructed 
of the same materials as the above, viz. raw cotton, cotton threads, 
also a little flax, and lined with horse-hair alone; the leaves were 
stitched together partly with thread prepared by the bird, and partly 
with spun thread ; and so well concealed was it, that even after Capt. 
Hearsey had discovered it (by accident) he could scarcely find it 
again to show to me. In it were found an egg and two young birds 
nearly fledged. These I placed, with the nest, in a trap-cage, and 
thus succeeded in capturing both of the old birds. The young birds 
are similar in colours to the adults, except that they are paler and the 
top of the head cinereous with a faint rufous tinge; bill yellowish. 
The eggs are white, spotted, chiefly at the larger end, with tawny 
spots.” 
P Further notices of the habits and nest of this curious bird are given 
by the following authors, at the places above referred to, viz. Hodgson, 
Sykes, Blyth, Layard, Nicholson, &c. 
