318 
CATALOGUE. 
Patia ('Leaf-bird '), Nepal, Hodgs. 
A. B. C. ? (0. Bennettii et 0. lingoo, Sykes). 
Dukhun. Presented by Colonel Sykes. 
d. e. f. (0. sutoria et 0. patia, Hodgs.). Nepal. Pre- 
sented by B. H. Hodgson, Esq. 
g. Drawing of bird, nest, and eggs, natural size. From 
Dr. F. (B.) Hamilton's Collection. 
The earliest notice of this long -celebrated bird is found in 
" Pennant's Indian Zoology," a classical work which combines 
various fragments of zoology collected by Forster, Loten, and other 
early Indian zoologists. The systematic name was first given by 
Gmelin. After various interesting remarks on Indian Zoology, 
Pennant describes the nest of the Tailor Bird as follows : " The bird 
picks up a dead leaf, and, surprising to relate, sews it to the side of a 
living one, its slender bill being its needle, and its thread some fine 
fibres ; the lining feathers, gossamer, and down." 
The bird is subsequently described by most Indian ornithologists. 
Mr. Jerdon remarks : " The Tailor Bird is tolerably common in 
most wooded districts, and universally spread, frequenting cultivated 
ground, especially gardens, groves of trees, and is also found in high 
jungle in the more open spaces. It lives in pairs or in small flocks, 
incessantly hopping about the branches of trees and shrubs, peas, and 
other vegetables, with a loud reiterated note, and picking various 
insects (chiefly ants and small larvae) 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 its throat, and displaying on either 
side a small black stripe. This has been noted by no one except 
Lieutenant 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 ttvee, twee, twee, as mentioned 
by Colonel Sykes, and another which is generally used when alarmed 
or angry, and sounds like cliicTc, cJiicJc, chick, chichy, chick. It is 
a familiar bird, and ventures close to houses, but when observed 
becomes wary." 
The following are a few observations on the structure of two 
specimens of the nest of the present bird, which were found in the 
garden belonging to Captain Hearsey, by Lieutenant Hutton. " The 
first was neatly formed of raw cotton and bits of cotton threads 
