108 
BIRDS OF BRITISH BURMAH. 
The female is rather smaller,, the tail being only 1-5, and the total 
length 4*3 inches. 
The Indian Tailor-bird occurs abundantly throughout every portion o£ 
Arrakan and Pegu^ except, perhaps, on the higher hills. Mr. Davison 
found it generally distributed in Tenasserim as far south as Mergui, and 
Capt. Bingham states that it is found in the Thoungyeen valley. Capt. 
Wardlaw Ramsay obtained it in Karennee. 
This species is widely distributed. It occurs over the whole peninsula 
of India, the island of Ceylon, the Indo-Burmese countries and South 
China. Dr. Tiraud states that it is found also in Cochin China, and Mr. 
Gould received it from Siam. 
The S. edela, which, Mr. Blyth states, occurs in Burmah, was probably 
entered in his Catalogue by an oversight. This species, so far as is known, 
occurs only in J ava, and differs from S. sutoria only in some very trifling 
particulars. 
This species is a very common and well-known bird. It is spread over 
the whole country, being found as frequently in gardens and compounds 
as in forests and other jungle. It has a remarkably loud note. It is 
chiefly arboreal, keeping almost entirely to trees and shurbs, and seldom 
descending to the ground. 
This bird and all the others of this section are remarkable for the 
beautiful nests they make. The present species breeds in Burmah from 
May to August, or perhaps earlier. A large leaf being selected, most 
frequently one not far from the ground, the edges are skilfully drawn 
together and fastened with vegetable fibres. In the receptacle thus formed, 
which is more or less of a cone with the point downwards, the nest is 
built. The materials are chiefly cotton, vegetable down, and fine grasses, 
but other articles, such as bits of thread and rags from some neighbouring 
dwelling, enter into the composition of the nest. The eggs are usually 
four in number, and are pale green speckled with rusty red. 
Genus OETHOTOMUS, Horsf. 
108. ORTHOTOMUS RUFICEPS. 
THE RED-HEADED TAILOR-BIRD. 
Edela ruficeps, Less. Tr. d'Orn. p. 309 {nec Less. Cent. Zool. p. 212, pi, 71). 
Orthotomus sericeus, Temm. PI. Col. Texte to livr. 101. Orthotomus 
ruficeps, Moore, P. Z. S. 1854, p. 79 ; Sahad. Ucc. Born. p. 248 ; Sharpe, This, 
1877, p. 114 ; Hume 8f Dav. S. F. vi. p. 346 ; Hume, 8. F. viii. p. 101. 
Description. — Male. Forehead, crown and nape chestnut ; back, scapu- 
