i 
Famity MERULIDAE (Thrushes) 
These well-known birds require no preface. They are chiefly 
of moderate size, excepting a few small birds, which have an 
uncommonly close affinity to the thrushes. Bill of moderate size, 
excepting a few more aberrant groups, fairly straight, compressed, 
culmen slightly curved and in most instances notched ; tarsus mode- 
rate in some, longish in others ; feet strong, usually well adapted for 
progression on the land. Their food consists chiefly of insects and 
grubs or fruit and berries. Blue appears to be prevailing colour 
of this family generally. J/erulide thrushes are found divided into 
the following sub-families :— 
(i) MYlovTHERINAG ... Ground-Thrushes. 
(i) MERULINA ... True Thrushes. 
Gii) TIMALINa ... Babbling Thrushes. 
Sup-Famity MYIOTHERIN 2B (Ground-Thrushes) 
Typically these birds have the legs and feet long and strong ; 
wings short ; tail usually short in most of the species; bill varied, 
stout in some, slender and straight in not a few. The approach to 
these thrushes, is occupied by small birds: the wrens and Short- 
wing. These pert little wrens are true thrushes by construction, 
habits, ete. Different localities in the district and in Sikkim find 
one or other ofits members more prevalent. Some of the commoner 
species of wrens were fairly plentiful in the station ; but of late 
years they have forsaken us, and are becoming conspicuous by their 
absence. A few years ago, I saw one or two stray ones on Birch 
hill; rarely found now, in Silver Spring forest above the house. 
Few places in India appear to be so rich in different species of 
wrens and thrushes as the Himalayas, district of Darjeeling being 
no exception. Nevertheless, in these days, one would have to go a 
mile or two, before meeting a true wren. Not afew of the species 
prefer a high altitude. Cold wintry weather does not seem to trou- 
ble them much. Wrens appear to differ but slightly, no matter in 
what part of the world they are met with, in their natural surround- 
ings. They are generally seen, hopping about among fallen logs and 
rotting undergrowth near or on the ground. 
TRUE WRENS, have strong legs, and tail typically short. This 
hind appendage is carried in a fashion peculiar to this group, which 
gives them an uncommonly pert and cocky little appearance, where- 
