FAM. CERTHIIDA: 9 
30. Certhia himalayana tzniura Severtzow. 
Certhia taeniura Severtzow, Izv. Obshch. Moskov., Vol. 8, no. 2, p. 138 (1873) (Turkestan) ; Zeitschr. Ges. Ornith. 
Vol. 4, 1888, p. rog (transl.). 
Hab. Mountains of Turkestan (Djimkent, Zarefshan etc.). 
2. GENUS SALPORNIS G. R. GRAy 
Salpornis G. R. Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. Vol. 15, 1 
Hylypsornis Bocage, Jorn. Acad. Lisboa, Vol. 6, p. 198, 
du Bocage). 
Hypsilornis Salvin & Sclater, The Ibis (4), Vol. 6, p. 334 (1882) (nom. emend.). 
847, p. 7 (Sp. un. : Certhia spilonota Franklin). 
211 (1878) (Sp. un. : A. Salvadori Barboza 
Characters. Bill longer than head, more robust than in the genus Certhia, at base rather 
broadened, at terminal portion slightly compressed laterally ; culmen distinctly ridged, strongly 
curved for its entire length, with acute tip; gonys slightly concave; maxillary tomium without 
trace of subterminal notch. Nostrils basal, lateral, longitudinal, exposed, situated in a large 
fossa, overhung by a coriaceous operculum. Tongue terminally ending in five bristles, lateral 
borders smooth, No rictal bristles. Wing long and pointed, falling a little short of the tail; third 
and fourth primaries longest, fifth scarcely shorter; second primary nearly as long as third; 
first primary spurious, narrow, extremely short, not exceeding primary coverts; secondaries 
broad, short, only two-thirds of the whole wing. Tail very much shorter than wing, slightly 
emarginate, with rectrices soft and distinctly rounded at tip. Tarsus robust, somewhat shorter 
than middle toe without claw; acrotarsium covered with large scutes; toes long and stout, 
outer toe much longer than inner, the latter at base adherent to middle toe, hallux slightly 
shorter than middle toe; claws strongly arched, that of hallux much shorter than the digit. 
Wing 86-92, tail 52-60, tarsus 14-16, bill 17-25 mm. 
Coloration, Above dark brown, variegated and spotted with whitish. Crown distinctly 
streaked with whitish or buff. Wing dusky, varied with pale grey, buff and white. Tail ashy 
or greyish brown, more or less banded with black. Under parts whitish or buff, throat and 
foreneck streaked, breast and abdomen banded with blackish or dusky. Feet black. Sexes alike. 
Geographical Distribution, Tropical Africa and Indian Peninsula. Four subspecies, 
three of which are African. 
Habits and Nidification. In habits Salpornis appears to resemble the true Tree-creepers, 
running round the stems in all directions and flying with a steady flight from one tree to the 
base of another. In mode of nidification, however, it (at least the Indian form) entirely differs 
from all other members of the family, for it is said to build a cup-shaped nest on a horizontal 
bough of a tree. The nest is composed of bits of leaf-stalk and leaves, chips of bark, and the 
dung of cater-pillars, bound together by cobwebs, and forms a very firm, elastic structure. The 
eggs (three in number) are greenish white, with a ring of blackish brown specks round the larger 
end and a few specks over the remainder of the shell (Cleveland). 
KEY TO THE SUBSPECIES OF THE GENUS SALPORNIS 
1. Bill longer, about 25 mm. With a distinct white superciliary stripe. Median 
vectrices ashy, with black and whitish marginal spots . . . . . . I.S. SPILONOTA SPILONOTA. 
