. Cassell's book of birds . e recognisable by their elongated body, much rounded wing, in which the fifth and sixthquills are the longest; their short abruptly rounded or graduated tail, composed of very narrowfeathers; and by their powerful feet with high tarsi and short toes; the beak is long, straight, broadat the base, and pointed at the tip, and in every respect admirably adapted for the sewing operationsit has to perform ; the base of the bill is surrounded by a few delicate bristles; the plumage is smoothand brightly coloured, usually green on the back and rust-red on the head. THE SING
. Cassell's book of birds . e recognisable by their elongated body, much rounded wing, in which the fifth and sixthquills are the longest; their short abruptly rounded or graduated tail, composed of very narrowfeathers; and by their powerful feet with high tarsi and short toes; the beak is long, straight, broadat the base, and pointed at the tip, and in every respect admirably adapted for the sewing operationsit has to perform ; the base of the bill is surrounded by a few delicate bristles; the plumage is smoothand brightly coloured, usually green on the back and rust-red on the head. THE SINGING BIRDS. 265 THE LONG-TAILED TAILOR Long-tailed Tailor Bird (Orthotomus longuauda) is of a yellowish olive-green on themantle, red on the crown of the head, and greyish red upon the nape; the under surface is white withfaint blackish spots upon the sides of the breast. The quills are brown edged with green, the tail-feathers brown shaded with green, those at-the exterior are tipped with white. In the male the two. THE LONG-TAILED TAILOR BIRD (Ort/wtoillUS loilgicauda). centre tail-feathers are considerably prolonged. The length of this species is six inches and a ha!,the wing measures two, and the tail three inches and a half; the female is not more than five incheslong, and her tail does not exceed two inches. The Tailor Birds are found throughout all parts ofIndia, from the Himalayas to Cape Comorin, also in Ceylon. Bunnah, and the neighbouring countries,frequenting such localities as are not entirely destitute of trees or bushes. In these situations theyusually live in pairs or small families, and pass their days in hopping nimbly from twig to twig insearch of insects, caterpillars, and larvas, upon which they subsist. When moving over the groundor eating they keep the tail erect, and elevate the feathers upon the head. The manner in whichvol. 11.—73 266 CASSELLS BOOK OF BIRDS. they construct their strange and beautiful nest is truly wonderful. Having chosen a l
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