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ever found. Their wings are short and rounded, unsuitable for 
long flights; hind toe and claw long. In habits they are solitary 
aud silent as a rule, though some of the hill wrens whistle beauti- 
fully and have a powerful far reaching call. I well remember, a 
bleak cold day in November, some years ago, when I put up, in a 
rambling, long yak drovers’ bathan, for about two or three weeks, 
near Jongri about 13,000 feet elevation, where I made the acquain- 
tance of a friendly little spotted wren. 
(334) TRoGLODYTES PUNCTATUS, Spotted Wren, which brought 
back memories of the Highlands and the heathered hills. One 
would need to look far before finding another species resembling 
so closely, the habits and characteristics of the homely little wrens 
of days gone by. Usually wrens in the district are difticult birds 
to find, especially members which prefer high altitudes. Species 
which are partial te lower elevations, below 5,000 feet seem fairly 
accustomed to hide away in thickly tangled bushes. Owing to this 
characteristic persistancy of keeping close to cover, it is with difh- 
culty that the different species are made out. Doubtlessly, the 
higher one gets the more friendly wrens seem to become; but they 
keep much to fixed localities. This friendly spirit shown by the 
little Spotted Wren on this particular occasion, might be accounted 
for, 1t may be, to the sympathy shown them by shepherds and their 
families. I have frequently noticed, in the district with pleasure, 
the terms of close friendship which exists between these humble 
folk and the friends nature has placed beside them. 
(329) PNaspLYGA SQUAMATA, Scaly-breasted Hill-wren, used to be 
the common Darjeeling wren, at all seasons. Even now they are 
not infrequently met with. Its loud cheerful little song is often 
heard in spring, which is uttered every now and then, after intervals 
of afew minutes. Sguamatais 44 inchesin length ; itsirides are brown. 
Lepchas call it imarchok-bong; plumage, above, is dark olive-brown or 
dark chesnutas it appears, uniformly speckled with buff; breast white 
and spotted ; under parts are more broadly marked. More or less 
the bird has a scaly appearance, owing to the brown and white 
edgings, tips of the feathers; below, plumage is browner. At differ- 
ent seasons of the year, colour alters a good deal. In spring, birds 
in general are at their best, in bright adornments. Most birds 
have darker vestments in winter. 
GENUS BRACHYPTERYX, (Short-wings) 
Have a strong aftinity to wrens. They are closely associated 
with them in habits and structure. They differ much in a few 
more typical points, both in shape and colour. As you watch a 
solitary species busily hunting for grubs near the ground in the 
