The birds of Calcutta / by Frank Finn.

  • Frank Finn
Date:
1917
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The birds of Calcutta / by Frank Finn. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    prolificacy to keep a small weak species going against many risks. Now, though Durzee has doubtless a great many ill-wishers, his food-supply is never likely to fail, nor is it ever cold enough in his home to nip the smallest bird, seeing that he only inhabits warm climates, not ascending our hills more than 4,000 feet, and only ranging, outside India, into Burma, Siam, and South China. Needless to say, he is not a migra- tory bird, and any day at all seasons his tiny form may be noticed in our gardens even in the middle of the town. Here, then, is an opportunity for any of our amateur naturalists. It is doubtful if every detail of the building of Durzee’s nest has ever been watched, as it has in the case of our mother wonderful architect, the weaver ; and any one who can locate a pair of Tailor-birds in his or her compound, and, penetrating into their secrets, tell us exactly how the thing is done, they will be doing a service to ornithology ; so much is there to study even in our commonest birds here, for India is the home of wonderful nest- builders. There are other warblers in the tailoring trade besides Orthotomus, and curiously enough these also are non-migratory birds of insignificant vocal attainments ; the migratory warblers, who do most of the warbling, like our blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) at home, being nothing out of the way as architects. Darwin has observed that beauty and the power of
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