(818) Orthotomus atrigularis nitidus.
The Burmese Black-necked Tailor-Bird.
Orthotomus nitidus Hume, Str. Feath,,ii, p. 507 (1874) (Tenasserim). Orthotomus atrigularis Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 368 (part.).
Vernacular names. Nok-a-chip Khor dum (Siam). Jungla Tee-tee Sorai (Assam) ; Hagra Dao-tee-tee (Cachari).
Description. Similar to the preceding bird, but a much brighter, more yellow-green above and whiter, less ashy below.
Colours of soft parts and Measurements as in the last bird.
Distribution. Sikkim to Eastern Asssm, Hills of Central Burma to Tenasserim, North Siam.
Nidification. This Tailor-Bird breeds from the foot-hills up to at least 6,000 feet, but more commonly below 4,000 feet than above it. It is common in the Khasia Hills in dense wet forest •during the breeding-season near villages and cultivated land, but builds its nest on the fringe of the forest and never in gardens like the common Tailor-Bird. Most of the nests I found myself were either in the bushes and bracken on the outskirts of thick jungle or in open glades just inside. The nest and eggs cannot be distinguished from those of O. sutorius, though it apparently does not build on trees or bushes at any height from the ground. One hundred eggs average 15.4 x 11.4 mm.: maxima 16.2 x 11.2 and 16.0 x 12.5 mm.; minima 14.6 X 11.6 and 15.6 x 10.8 mm.
The breeding-months are April, May, June and July.
Habits. This Tailor-Bird takes the place of O. sutorius in forests and jungles and is much more wild and shy than that bird. Like the Malay race its shrill note is heard much more often than the bird itself is seen, as it keeps closely to undergrowth and thick cover.
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