MYIOTHERIN^. 493 



formed the type specimen of Mr. Gray's genus ; and, as Mr. Blytli 

 informs us, had his M. S. name attached to the label. 



335. Rimator malacoptilus, Blyth 



J. A. S., XVI., 154 and 878— Caulodroraus Gracei, Gray, Ann. 

 Mag N. H., 1847— Merva Jerdonii, Hodgson, Calc. J. K H., 1847, 

 p. 96, with a figure — Gray, 111. Gen Birds, pi. — Blyth, Cat. 

 App. No. 6, p. 338. — Karriak tungbrek-pho, Lepch. 



The Long-billed Wren. . 



Descr. — Above, deep brown, with pale fulvous shafts; scapulars 

 and interscapulars mixed black and brown ; quills and tail deep 

 brown, with a slightly ruddy tinge ; under parts pale brown ; chin 

 whitish, a black streak on each side of the throat, with a few dusky 

 spots ; feathers of the breast margined with olive ; flanks olive, 

 tinged ferruginous ; lower tail-coverts dark rusty. Bill dark horny, 

 flashy at the base ; legs brownish red ; irides light brown. 



Length 5 inches ; extent 7 ; wing 2|; tail 1^ ; bill at front 1 

 inch ; tarsus ^ ; hind claw |. 



I procured two or three specimens of this remarkable bird at 

 Darjeeling, but regret that I did not observe it myself. It was 

 said to be chiefly a feeder on the ground, among brushwood and 

 fallen trees, and I found the remains of insects in its stomach. I 

 have little doubt of the propriety of placing it here. Mr. Blyth calls 

 it a Myiotherine bird, approaching the Wrens. Gray puts it in his 

 sub-family Certhince, as does Pr. Bonaparte, but quite erroneously, 

 I think. Other Wrens are found in Africa, Oligura^ Kiippell, 

 and Comaroptera, Sundeval. 



The next group of birds comprises several genera peculiar to the 

 Indian region, whose place in the natural system has been subject of 

 some doubt, though most systematists are nearly agreed. Gray places 

 it in his /'wrmicamzfe, as does Horsfield ; and Blyth classes it next 

 to the Wrens. Bonaparte also places it in his Pittina, near Tesia and 

 Fnoepyr^a. They are mostly birds of dull slaty plumage, the females 

 in some brown, and their plumage is soft and flimsy. They appear 

 to have relations on one side with some of the Saxicolince. throuo-h 

 Hodjsonim, and, on the other side, with some Malayan birds usually 

 classed with the IwiaUnee. 



