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The Warblers are numerous 
all over the world, and we have 
many examples in England. 
The first example of the soft- 
tailed Warblers is the celebrated 
Tailor-bird of India and the 
Indian Archipelago. There are 
many species of Tailor-birds and 
as they all possess similar habits, 
there is no need of describing 
more than the example which 
has 'been given. They are 
peculiar birds, haunting culti- 
vated grounds, and being gene- 
rally seen in pairs on fields and 
in gardens. They dislike lofty 
elevations, and may usually be 
noticed near the ground, hopping 
about the lower branches of 
trees and shrubs in their search 
after insects, and occasionally 
seeking their prey on the ground. 
Their flight is rapid but undu- 
lating, after the manner of many 
short-winged and long-tailed 
birds. 
The Tailor-bird is a sober 
little creature, not more con- 
spicuous than a common spar- 
row, and is chiefly remarkable 
for its curious nest, which is 
TAILOR-BIRD . — Orthotomus longicaudus. made . in a singular and most 
^ ingenious manner, laking two 
leaves, at the extremity of a slender twig, the bird literally sews them together at 
their edges, its bill taking the place of the needle and vegetable fibres consti- 
tuting the thread. A quantity of soft cottony down is then pushed between the 
leaves, and a convenient hollow scraped out in which the eggs may lie, and the 
young birds may rest at their ease. Sometimes, if the leaf be large enough, 
its two edges are drawn together, but in general a pair of leaves are needed. 
A few feathers are sometimes mixed with the down. 
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