486 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



pers. Blj'tli, in his late classification, brings the series together 

 very much as I have done, adding to it Enicurus, which I place 

 among the Wagtails. Gray includes in his family several Malayan 

 forms, usually classed among the Timalince. 



Bonaparte's sub-families of CincUnce, Pittince and Myiophonines, 

 following one another in the order here given, nearly coincide with 

 our group ; but he removes Troglodytes to his Malurinte, in 

 which he includes many of the smaller Timaline forms. It will 

 thus be seen that, with few exceptions, most modern ornithologists 

 are nearly agreed as to the propriety of placing the birds of the 

 present series together, in spite of their apparent differences. 



Of birds foreign to India, the present sub-family includes the 

 whole of the American Ant-Thrushes and Wrens. 



In general, the Ground Thrushes may be said to be birds of 

 small or moderate size, with short wings and tails, feeding chiefly on 

 the ground and on insects. They nidificate, some in bushes, others 

 on the ground, or on rocks near water. Most of them are of plain 

 and sombre plumage ; but one group is remarkable for the rich and 

 gay colours with which its members are adorned. 



I shall divide them for convenience into the following groups — 

 Wrens, Short-wings, Ground-Thrushes, Whistling Thrushes, and 

 Wren Thrushes. 



1st. — Wrens. 



These birds, by their small size and slender bills, would appear at 

 first sight better placed among the Sylviadce ; but they differ from 

 any of that family by their long, strong legs, and short tails, and, 

 throuo-h the group of American Wrens, Thri/othorina, are clearly 

 connected with the Ant-Thrushes of the same continent. 



Gen. Tesia, Hodgson. 

 Syn. Oligura, Hodgson. 



Char. — Bill of moderate length, barely depressed, straight, slight- 

 ly bent at the tip ; nares cincline, membranous ; rictus with a few 

 feeble bristles ; wings feeble, round ; tail short, nearly obsolete ; 

 tarsus high, slender, almost smooth; toes slender, compressed; 

 nails acute; lateral toes unequal; hind toe large; claws long, 

 slightly curved. The only two species at present known of this 

 genus are confined to the mountain forests of the Himalayas, and 



