448 TROGLODYTID2E. 



(461) Troglodytes troglodytes tibetanus. 

 THE TIBETAN WHEN. 



Anorthura iibetana Walton, Bull. B. O. C., xv, p. 93 (1905)(Khamba 

 Jong, Tibet). 



Vernacular names. Xoiie recorded. 



Description. Exactly like T. t. neglectus except that it is de- 

 cidedly bigger. 



Colours of soft parts. None noted. 



Measurements. Wing 53 and 56 mm.; tail 33 mm.; tarsus 17 

 and 18 mm. ; culmeii 13 mm. 



Distribution. Khamba Jong, Tibet. 



Nidification unknown. 



Habits. Walton records (Ibis, 1906, p. 74) that he shot several 

 of these Wrens at Khamba Jong in the autumn : " They occurred 

 there during very cold weather, when all the streams were frozen 

 hard, except one that was supplied by a clear warm spring." 



Genus ELACHURA Gates, 1889. 



This genus was created by Gates for the little Wren Troglodytes 

 formosus (punctatus), which differs from the typical birds of the 

 genus Troglodytes in having a much stouter bill and a more 

 graduated tail. The plumage in Elacliura is spotted and not 

 barred. 



In Elachura the sexes are alike and the young are probably 

 similar to the adult. The bill is stout and almost half the length 

 of the head. The wing is very short and rounded and the first 

 primary is about two-thirds the length of the second. The tail is 

 well graduated, the outer feathers reaching to about the middle 

 of the central ones. The tarsi, toes and claws are long and 

 strong. There are only two species known and one of these, 

 Elachura haplonota, is represented by a single specimen. 



Key to Species. 



A. Upper plumage spotted Elachura formosa,* p. 449. 



B. Upper plumage uuspotted Elachura haplonota, p. 450. 



* The name punctata cannot be used for this little Wren as Troglodytes 

 punctatus is already preoccupied by Brehin. Troglodytes formosus of Wafdeii 

 is therefore the next available. 



