THE TAILOR-BIRD. 45. 



prolificacy to keep a small weak species going agaiast 

 many risks. Now, though Durzee has doubtless a 

 great many ill-wishers, his food-supply is never likely 

 to f aU, nor is it ever cold enough in his home to nip 

 the smallest bird, seeing that he only inhabits warm 

 climates, not ascending our hills more than 4,000 feet, 

 and only ranging, outside India, into Burma, Siam, 

 and South China. Needless to say, he is not a migra- 

 tory bird, and any day at all seasons his tiny form 

 may be noticed in our gardens even in the middle 

 of the town. Here, then, is an opportunity for any of 

 our amateur naturalists. It is doubtful if every detail 

 of the building of Durzee's nest has ever been watched, 

 as it has in the case of our other wonderful architect,, 

 the weaver ; and any one who can locate a pair of 

 TaUor-birds in his or her compound, and, penetrating 

 into their secrets, tell us exactly how the thing is 

 done, they will be doing a service to ornithology ; 

 so much is there to study even in our commonest 

 birds here, for India is the home of wonderful nest- 

 builders. There are other warblers in tlie tailoring 

 trade besides Orthotomus, and curiously enough these 

 also are non-migratory birds of insignificant vocal, 

 attainments ; the migratory warblers, who do most 

 of the warbling, like our blackcap {Sylvia atricapilla) 

 at home, being nothing out of the way as architects. 

 Darwin has observed that beauty and the power of 



