STACHYRIDOPStS. 153 



longest ; tail short and weak, the feathers slender with soft slightly pointed 

 tips ; plumage lax, very much so on the rump* (Jerd.) 



Fig. on Plate, p. 152. 



627. Rimator malacoptilus, Biytk, J. A. s. B. xvi. pp. 155, 



864, 878 ; id., Cat. B. Ms, As. Set. p. 38 ; Jerd., B. hid, i. p. 493 ; Gould, 

 JB. Asia^ pt. 22; H&ine, Sfr* F. 1879, p. 93. Caulodroma gracei, Gray and 

 Mitch* Gen. B. \. p. 144 ; id. Ann. and M&g* Nat. Hist. xix. p. 362. 

 Merva Jerdoni, Hvdgs.) Calc. yourn* Nat* Hist. 1847, P- 9& The LONG- 

 BILLED WREN. 



Head and upper parts deep bro\vn> with pale fulvous shaft streaks ; lesser 

 and median wing coverts with narrow pale shaft lines ; the greater coverts 

 washed with rufous externally 5 bastard wing and primary coverts dusky brown, 

 externally edged with lighter brown ; quills the same, the inner secondaries 

 entirely brown 5 tail dusky brown, the outer Webs washed with rufescent ; lores 

 reddish buff, with dusky tips to the feathers ; cheeks light -fulvous, separated 

 from the ear coverts by a distinct line of black ; chin whitish ; throat pale 

 fulvous brown, mottled with light centres, and a black streak on each side, with 

 a few dusky spots ; under surface of the body streaked with ashy fulvous 

 whitish and brown, the feathers of the breast margined with olive j under tail 

 coverts deep tawny buff with paler shaft streaks ; under wing coverts and 

 axillaries pale tawny buff, with a small dark patch on the lower wing coverts. 

 Bill dark horny, fleshy at the base ; legs brownish red ; iris light brown. 



Length. ^ inches; wing 2*2 ; tail 1-05 to 1-25; tarsus 0-9 ; culmen 1-05. 



Hab. -The Eastern Himalayas. Has only yet been found at Darjeeling 

 and in Nepaul. It is said to feed on the ground on insects. One other 

 species known of this genus (R. albostriata) occurs in Sumatra. 



GROUP. LIOTRICHES. 



In this group is comprised the Hill-Tits or Leiotrithea and the Flower-peckers 

 or Ixulea>> inhabitants chiefly of the Himalayas, some extending their range to 

 the south-east, and through Burmaru Their plumage is very varied ; the 

 majority are of small size. Several are crested or have the feathers of the head 

 more or less elongated ; the rictal bristles are absent or very small, but in no 

 case exceeding beyond the nostrils ; the tail is small, very few only reaching 

 half an inch beyond the tips of the wings. They feed chiefly on seeds, fruits, 

 flower buds and insects, and nidificate on trees. 



Gen. StachyridOpsiS. Sharpe. 



Bill rather higher than wide at base, straight, slightly tapering, bent down- 

 wards and faintly notched ; nostrils nearly concealed ; rictals almost smooth ; 

 wings rounded, $th, 6th and 7th quills generally equal ; tarsus moderately long ; 

 bill not as long as tarsus. 



628. Stachyridopsis ruficeps (Blyth), Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. 



vii. p. 598. Stachyris ruficeps, Blyth, J. A. S, B. xvi. p. 452; Bp. Consp, 

 VOL, 1120 



