ELA.CHURA.. 449 



(462) Elachura formosa. 

 THE SPOTTED WHEN. 



Troglodytes formosus Walden, Ibis, 1874, p. 91 (Darjeeling). 

 Elachura jnmctata. Blanf . & Gates, i, p. 339. 



Vernacular names. Marcliek-pho (Lepcha). 



Description. The upper plumage aud wing-coverts dark brown, 

 tinged with rufous on the lower ruinp 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, cross-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 30 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 

 elevatious. 



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 Xative 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 eggs seem to number 3 or 4 

 onlv and are rather glossy, with a fine hard surface. In colour 

 they are pure white with a few specks of reddish-brown. The 

 few eggs I have seen measured about 16'5x 12-5 mm. 



Habits. Mr. Masson informed me that these birds were typical 

 little 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 undergrowth 

 and much broken with moss-covered boulders and rocks, it is not 

 often one can force them to flight. 



TOL. I. 2 G 



