The New Student's Reference Work/Tailor-Bird
Tai′lor-Bird, a small bird about the size of a warbler, living in India, Ceylon and southern China. There are about seven species. The common tailor-bird is olive-green above and yellowish white underneath, with a pale, brick-red crown. In making its nest, leaves at the end of a twig are sewed together, or sometimes the edges of one large leaf are united. The bill is used as a needle, and fibers and grass are used as threads. This habit gives its name of tailor-bird. The united leaves do not form the nest, but merely are a receptacle for it. The nest proper is made of wool and vegetable-fibers and is lined with hair.