456 TEOGLODYTID.E. 



triangular tenuiniil spots of blackish brown ; in some cases the 

 lower plumage is faintly tinged with fulvous, es])ecially on the 

 sides ; flanks brown obscurely barred with blackish ; under tail- 

 coverts rufous The white colour of the lower parts at once 

 •distinguishes this race from all the others. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris red-brown ; bill dark horny-brown ; 

 legs brownish-fleshy. 



Measurements. Wing 47 to 49 mm. ; tail 37 to 39 mm. ; 

 tarsus 21 mm. ; culmen 12 to 13 mm. 



Distribution. Chin Hills above 5,000 feet. 



Nidification. Major Venning and Mr. ~F. Grant found this 

 Wren breeding iu the Chin Hills between 5,000 and 9,000 feet in 

 March, April and May, eggs being found between the 12th 

 March and the 24th May, two fresh eggs having been taken on 

 the latter, date. The nest is typical of that of the genus. 

 Venning describes one taken by him as " a large, oval, domed-shaped 

 structure, composed of an outer layer of dead leaves, canna 

 leaves, coarse grass, etc., inside which was a layer of grass stems, 

 fibres and a little moss, the cup being lined up to the level of the 

 entrance with a plaster about yL inch thick, composed, as far as I 

 •could determine, of a substance which looked like chewed thistle 

 stem or chewed grass. The dimensions were : exterior height 

 6 in,, diameters 5 in. and 4 in." Other nests taken were exactly 

 like the one described ; they wei'e all placed on damp ground in 

 undergrowth or grass in forest. 



The eggs, which number two to four in a full clutch, are not 

 distinguishable from those of the Assam race, Eit'teen eggs 

 average about 1 8"2 X 1 4"6 mm. 



Habits. There is practically nothing on record about this bird, 

 but it is not likely that its habits differ in any way from those of 

 the other races. It, however, seems occasionally to be found in 

 rather more open country. 



(470) Spelaeornis caudatus. 



The Tailed WiiEN. 



Tesia cavdata Blyth, J, A. S. B., xiv, i^. 589 (1845) (Darjiliug). 

 TJrocichla caudata. Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 341. 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Lores and sides of the head grey ; the whole upper 

 plumage olive-brown, the feathers with terminal black edges and 

 faint shaft-streaks ; wings and their coverts chestnut-brown ; tail 

 rufous-brown ; chin and throat bright chestnut ; breast paler 

 chestnut, each feather with a black centre and tip ; sides of the 

 body the same ; abdomen black, each feather with a white shaft- 

 streak, in most cases hidden, and a large subterminal square white 

 spot. 



