332 



Distribution. The Eastern hills of Manipur, where this species was 

 obtained by Hume at elevations of from 5000 to 6000 feet. He 

 states that it was not very uncommon, though by no means abundant. 



346. Certhia stoliczkae. Stoliczka's Tree-Creeper. 



Certhia stoliczkee, Brooks, J. A. S. B. xlii, pt. ii, p. 256 (1873) ; 

 Hume, S. F. v, pp. 77, 78 ; id. Cat. no. 244 bis. 



Coloration. Forehead, crown, nape, back, and ear-coverts black 

 streaked with fulvous ; rump and upper tail-coverts ferruginous ; 

 tail pale reddish brown with reddish shafts ; wing-coverts tipped 

 with fulvous ; quills dark brown, all but the first four with a pale 

 fulvous band, above and below which the feathers are blackish ; 

 the quills tipped with buff, and with a subterminal band of the 

 same colour on the outer webs ; chin and throat whitish ; feathers 

 round the eye, a supercilium, and cheeks buff ; centre of breast 

 and abdomen pale fulvous ; sides of the breast and abdomen, vent, 

 and under tail-coverts deep ferruginous ; under wing-coverts and 

 axillaries pale fulvous. 



Length about 6 ; tail 3'2 ; wing 2*8 ; tarsus '75 ; bill from 

 gape -7. 



Distribution. Sikhim and Bhutan. 



Genus SALPOENIS, Gray, 1847. 



The genus Salpornis contains only one Indian and one African 

 species, and differs in many remarkable respects from Certhia, 

 although bearing a great general resemblance to it. It has an 

 extremely long, pointed wing, with a minute first primary, and the 

 second primary reaches to the tip of the wing. The foot is also 

 differently shaped. But the most remarkable feature about Sal- 

 pornis is that it builds a cup-shaped nest on a branch of a tree, thus 

 deviating entirely from the habits of all other Creepers. The posi- 

 tion of this bird requires further investigation. 



Fig. 102. Foot of Salpornis. 



Salpornis has a bill similar in shape to that of Certhia, but much 

 longer. The tarsus is short, and the hind claw is much shorter 

 than the hind toe. The tail is composed of twelve soft rounded 

 feathers, and nearly square. 



The sexes are alike, and the young are similar to the adult, and 

 there is nothing to lead to the belief that there is any spring moult. 



