450 TKOGLODYTIDJE. 



(463) Elachura haplonota. 

 THE PLAIN BROWN WEEN. 



Elachura haplonota Stuart Baker, Ibis, 1892, p. 62 (Hungrum, 

 N. Cachar). 



Vernacular names. Tinylin-rui-yajela ( Kacha ]X"aga). 



Description. Whole upper plumage and wing-coverts dark 

 umber-brown, rather lighter on the rump and upper tail-coverts, 

 the feathers obsoletely edged with rather pale sienna-brown ; 

 wings dark cinnamon-brown on the exposed parts and dark brown 

 where unexposed in the closed wing; tail brown, tinged with 

 cinnamon-red but not so strongly as are the wing-quills; lores 

 fulvous-brown, dusky next the eyes ; chin and throat white 

 tinged with fulvous and the feathers, except in the centre, tipped 

 with dusky ; breast and sides of the neck fulvous-brown, the 

 feathers tipped brown and subtipped white, the white being 

 most prominent in the centre of the breast ; centre of abdomen 

 white ; flanks and under tail-coverts fulvous-brown, some of the 

 feathers of the former tipped white ; thighs greyish -brown, the 

 shafts of the feathers paler ; under wing-coverts grey ; axillaries 

 dark fulvous-brown. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris light red ; bill dark horny, slightly 

 paler on commissure and tip; gape black, mouth bluish-fleshy; 

 legs sanguineous-fleshy, the claws still paler. 



Measurements. Length in the flesh 104 mm.; wing 50 mm.; 

 tail 40 mm. ; tarsus 15 mm.; culmen 10 mm. 



Distribution. The only specimen known was obtained on the 

 Hungrum Peak, N. Cachar Hills, at 6,400 feet. 



Nidification. The nest, upon which the above bird was trapped, 

 was made of skeleton leaves, dead leaves, roots, tiny twigs and 

 grass bents fairly well bound together, covered outside with 

 loose dead leaves and compactly lined with skeleton leaves. In 

 shape it was a very deep cup about 81 mm. across its broadest 

 part by about 135 mm. deep and it was placed under a fallen 

 tree, supported by fallen branches and rubbish, the fallen tree 

 itself forming the top of the nest. 



The eggs, three in number, were pure glossy white, one faintly 

 speckled and the others more strongly marked with pale reddish- 

 brown. They measure about 17"2 x 13-1 mm. 



The nest was taken on the llth May in very dense secondary 

 growth in which many dead trees were left lying. 



Habits. The two birds seen when watching the above nest 

 were just like birds of the genus Pnoepyrja in habits, very active 

 and restless, quick on their legs but slow and feeble in their 

 flight. Other birds seen but not procured, with a nest similar to 

 that above described, were just as shy and restless. The call-note 

 is a loud, clear whistle and there is also a constantly-uttered soft 

 " chir." The bird, trapped on its nest, had fed on ants and a 

 species of tiny bright blue beetle. 



