ELACHURA. 449 
(462) Elachura formosa. 
Tur Sporrep WReEN. 
Troglodytes formosus Walden, Ibis, 1874, p. 91 (Darjeeling). 
Elachura punctata. Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 339. 
Vernacular names. Marchek-pho (Lepcha). 
Description. The upper plumage and wing-coverts dark brown, 
tinged with rufous on the lower rump and upper tail-coverts, 
each feather with a small, subterminal white spot bordered above 
and below with black; inner webs of quills brown, the outer 
barred with chestnut and black; tail reddish-brown, eross-barred 
with black; lower plumage pale fulvous, inclining to rufous on 
the abdomen and flanks, each feather with a triangular white 
spot, above which is a smaller black one; all the feathers delicately 
vermiculated with white. 
Fig. 89.—Head of E. formosa. 
Colours of soft parts. Iris brown; legs horny-brown; bill 
horny-brown. 
Measurements. Total length about 110 to 115 mm.; wing 49 
to 60 mm.; tail 39 mm.; tarsus 18 to 19 mm.; culmen 11 to 
12 mm. 
Distribution. Sikkim to Eastern Assam. Stevens records 
obtaining his specimens at Panchnoi, Dafla Hills, at quite low 
elevations. 
Nidification. Several clutches of this Wren’s eggs were obtained! 
by Mr. W. P. Masson and Mr. K. Maedonald in Sikkim round 
about Darjeeling and in Native Sikkim. The former reported 
them as very common on the Singa-lila Ridge above 9,000 feet. 
The nest was described as a deep, semi-domed cup made of dead 
leaves, grass, roots, etc., densely lined with feathers and placed 
on the ground on a bank, half hidden in fallen rubbish or well 
concealed by the undergrowth. The eges seem to number 3 or 4 
only and are rather glossy, with a fine hard surface. In colour: 
they are pure white with a few specks of reddish-brown. The 
few eges I have seen measured about 16°5 x 12°5 mm. 
Habits. Mr. Masson informed me that these birds were typical 
httle Wrens in their behaviour, keeping much to their legs and 
apparently loth to take wing unless very hard pressed. As 
they live principally in deep forest with plentiful undergrowtl 
and much broken with moss-covered boulders and rocks, it is not 
often one can force them to flight. 
VOL. I. 2G 
