80 WARBLER. 



the support of it. This inward nest is composed of white down, with 

 here and there a feather, and a small portion of white down inter- 

 mixed ; the stalk about five inches long. I received this from Capt. 

 J. Sotheby, who brought it into England from China, in the year 

 1807. How far this nest is connected with the above described seems 

 not clear, but if made by the same bird, it serves to shew, that the 

 second leaf is not made use of, except in such cases as a single one is 

 not found large enough for the purpose. 



Among the drawings of Sir J. Anstruther is not only a represent- 

 ation of this nest, but another of an equally curious fabrication ; it 

 appears to be composed of several leaves, like those of some kind 

 of hazel, sewed together, and an inner a nest formed of dry bents, 

 fibres, and hairs, suspended from a tree, by the main leaf, to which 

 the others are fastened. In this are figured two young birds, but 

 with bills stouter than in the Warbler Genus ; the colour of them 

 rufous above, and white beneath. By the side of the nest are 

 painted two ferruginous, or rufous-coloured eggs. The name in the 

 drawing, Baya.* 



How far the three nests above described may belong to one 

 Species, is not easy to say ; but if so, it shews the bird to be capable 

 of varying the structure of its habitation, as occasion may require : 

 if on the contrary, we may fairly conclude, that more than one or 

 two birds form similar nests, if not precisely the same. 



In the collection of Indian drawings, belonging to Lady Clive, 

 is a bird not unlike the Tailor Warbler, but with an elongated tail, 

 under the name of Merops minimus, or Motacilla sutoria. From 

 the similarity of plumage, and manner of building the nest, there 

 may be some reason to suspect, that the Long-tailed and the Tailor 

 Warblers might form but one Species, did not the shape of the tails 

 so essentially differ. 



* This name is given to the Philippine Grosbeak, but the nest of that is described, as being 

 in the shape of a long-necked bottle, and made of grass, quite different from the Baya 

 here described. 



