320 
CATALOGUE. 
year, in May and in November ; and this may be owing to the 
vegetation of gardens being always kept up by means of artificial irri- 
gation ; for cultivated spots seem its favourite, if not exclusive, resort, 
at least in the north of India. Though no doubt it haunts suitable 
jungles, I never observed it there, nor ever discovered its nest so 
situated ; but I have found many nests in my gardens, both at Surat 
and at Eaghote, as well as in Cutch. It seems to prefer the leaf of 
the Bringal {Solanum esculenturn), or that of the Cucv/rlita octcm- 
gularis, for the purposes of nidification ; and it lays four small white 
eggs, marked with faint dark spots at the larger end. After selecting 
a fitting leaf, it proceeds by means of its feet and beak to draw the 
edges together, perforating holes therein, and securing their proximity 
by threads of cotton, with bunches at the end to prevent their giving 
way. Then the nest is constructed inside the leaf, now forming a 
sort of cove, with cotton ; the entrance is at the top, and the nest 
seems small in proportion to the bird." 
The Tailor Bird is found in India generally, Ceylon, the Burmese 
countries, and the Malayan peninsula. 
Further notices of the habits and nest of this curious bird will be 
found by the following authors in the references above referred to, 
viz., Hodgson, Sykes, Blyth, Layard, &c. 
Genus Prinia, Horsf., Trans. Linn. Soc. XIII. jt?. 165 (1820). 
493. PRINIA FAMILIARIS, Horsf. 
Prinia familiaris, Sorsf., Trans. Linn. Soc. XIII. p. 165 ; 
Zool. Res. in Java, t. Lath., Hist. TV. p. 264. 
Swains., Zool. Lll. n. s. t. 97. G. R. Gray, Gen. of 
Birds, I. p. 162. JBonap., C. G. Av. p. 284. 
Motacilla olivacea. Raffles, Trans. Linn. Soc. XIII. 
p. 313. LatJi., Hist. VII. p. 218. 
Orthotomus prinia, Temm., Text de Rl. Col. 599. 
Familiar Creeper, Lath. 
Peiuta, Java, Horsf . 
A. h. Java. From Dr. Horsfield's Collection. 
c. Drawing {M. olivacea. Raffles). Sumatra. From Sir 
T. S. Raffles's Collection. 
" The Rrinya is abundant in many parts of Java near villages and 
gardens; in the confines of these it builds its nest on trees and 
shrubs. Its motions are sprightly. It sports among the branches 
