465 



(476) Tesia castaneocoronata castaneocoronata.. 

 THE CHESTNUT-HEADED 



Sylvia castaneocoronata Burton, P. Z. S., 1835, p. 152 (152).. 

 Oliffura castaneicoronata. Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 193. 



Vernacular names. Tisi (Nepal) ; Samtit-pho (Lecha).. 



4 



Fig. 93. Head of T. c. castaneocoronata. 



Description. Forehead, crown, nape, lores, ear-coverts and a 

 line under the eyes bright chestnut ; a small patch of white' 

 leathers at the posterior corner of the eye ; cheeks, chin, throat,, 

 breast and abdomen bright yellow, the breast suffused with oliva- 

 ceous and mottled with a few indistinct brown bars ; sides of 

 breast, abdomen and under tail-coverts olivaceous ; upper plumage,, 

 wings and tail dark olive-green. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris brown to red; bill yellowish-horny 

 or brownish-yellow; legs fleshy-yellow. 



Measurements. Length about 100 nun. ; wing 43 to 48 mm. ; 

 tail about 15 mm. ; tarsus 23 mm. ; culmen about 10 to 11 mm. 



Distribution. Himalayas from Garhwal to the extreme East of 

 Assam ; the Khasia, Naga and Cachar Hills South of the Brah- 

 maputra but not recorded from Manipur or farther South and 

 East. 



Nidification. The Chestnut-headed Wren breeds between 6,000 

 and 8,000 feet in the months of June and July, building a nest 

 much like that of the last bird but. less well put together and 

 lined with feathers instead of roots. During the breeding season' 

 it haunts oak and other forests where there is ample under- 

 growth and where the moss and parasitic plants are luxuriant. 

 The nest is placed either in a bush or low branch of a tree and no 

 attempt seems to be made at concealment, though in appearance itis 

 so like the numerous clumps of moss which are to be seen in every 

 direction that it would never attract attention. Occasionally a 

 nest may be found in amongst the moss on a tree-trunk or hanging 

 from a branch and in such cases they are very difficult to detect. 

 The egcs number three or, less often, four and are like those of 

 the Slaty-bellied Wren but usually much darker and richer in 

 colouring. Fifteen eggs average 17'4xl2-9 mm. and the ex- 

 tremes are : maxima, 18'3x 13'4 mm. and minima, 16'8 X 12'4mm.. 

 A larger series would probably give a smaller average. 



VOL. I. 2 H 



