337 



Coloration. The w hole upper plumage pale golden brown, each 

 f rat her margined with black and subterminally tipped with ashy ; 

 the wing-coverts, back, rump, upper tail-coverts, wings, arid tail 

 cross-barred with black; ear-coverts rufous with paler shafts; a 

 broad superciliuiii composed of black feathers with subtenninal 

 white tips; chin, throat, and sides of the neck, breast, and upper 

 abdomen ashy brown edged with black, inside this bordered very 

 distinctly and evenly with white; remainder of the lower plumage 

 golden brown with whitish subterminal spots. 



In the dry skin the legs are dark brown ; the bill brown with 

 the greater part of the lower mandible yellowish. 



Length about 7 ; tail 2-6 ; wing 2*9 : tarsus I'l ; bill from 

 gape 1-05. 



Distribution. Discovered by Mr. Robert on the Hemeo Peak, 

 North Cachar hills. This species has also been procured in the 

 Manipur hills according to God win- Austen. 



Genus ANORTHURA, Eennie, 1833. 



The genus Anorihura contains two Indian birds which may be 

 considered as permanent races of the Common English Wren. 

 They inhabit the Himalayas, and are constant residents there. 



In Anorthura the sexes are alike, and the young bird is quite 

 like the adult. The bill is very slender and feeble, and about half 

 the length of the head ; the wing is extremely short and rounded, 

 the first primary being about two thirds the length of the second ; 

 the tail, of twelve feathers, is shorter than the wing and not very 

 much graduated, the outer feather being about three quarters the 

 length of the tail ; the tarsus and the claws are long and slender ; 

 and the plumage is barred in both species. 



The Wrens frequent underwood, creeping about, as a rule, and 

 flying but little. They build massive nests and lay numerous eggs, 

 which are usually spotted but occasionally white. 



Key to the Species. 



a. Plumage davk rufous-brown ; hind toe and claw 



strong, '(3 in length A. nepalensis, p. 337. 



b. Plumage pale rufous-brown ; hind toe and claw 



weak, -55 in length A. negkcta, p. 338. 



Fig. 106. Head of A. nepalensis. 



351 . Anorthura nepalensis. The Nepal Wren. 



Troglodytes nipalensis, Hodys., Bhjth, J. A. S. B. xiv, p. 589 (1845) ; 

 id. Cat. p. 158 ; Horsf. $ M. Cat. i, p. 181 ; Jerd. B. I. i, p. 491 ; 

 TOL. I. Z 



