Page:The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma (Birds Vol 1).djvu/500

 454 thoglodytid.'e. grey, the feathers with black terminal bars and conspicuous sub- terminal white spots; centre of throat and upper breast whitish; under tail-coverts rufous-brown.

Colours of soft parts. " Iris reddish-brown; bill black; legs brownish " {Harinffton).

Measurements. AVing 48 and 51 mm.; tail 36 to 37 mm.; tarsus 21 mm.; culmen 12 mm. "Total length about 4-1" ( = 104 mm.) [HariiKjton). Distribution, Sinlum, Bhamo Hills.

Nidification. Nests of this Wren taken by Col. Harington and Mr. F. Grant were just like those of S. L longicaudatas, that is to say oval-shaped, domed nests made principally with dead leaves and lined with the name papier mdche substance which appears to be used by all the birds of this genus. They were placed on the ground in forest, on banks in dense undergrowth. The five eggs sent to me are all quite like those of S. J. loiujicaudntus, white eggs well speckled with dark red, but of three eggs in one clutch taken by Col. Harington two were pure white and the third very faintly freckled. Eight eggs average 19-0 x 14-6 mm. and the extremes are 20*7 X 15-6 and 18-1 X 14-1 mm. May and June seem to be the breeding season and apparently the nests were all found at about 6,000 feet elevation.

Habits. Harington describes this Wren as an inveterate skulker and very hard to obtain though its loud, powerful song may often be heard. It keeps almost entirely to dense forest with thick undergrowth between 5,000 and 8,000 feet.


 * Urocichla kauriensis Harington, A. M. N. H., ser. 8, ii, p 246 (1908) (Watau, Bhamo Hills).

Vernacular names. None recorded.

Description. Very close indeed to S. I. sinlumensis but the throat and breast a shade more fulvous-grey, a little redder perhaps on the flanks and with the markings on the under plumage less distinct.

Colours of soft parts. "Iris dark red; bill dark horn-colour; legs light brown " {Harin/jton).

Measurements. Wing 47 to 48 jnm.; tail about 30 mm. (damaged); tarsus about 20 mm.; culmen about 12-5 mm.

Distribution. The only two specimens known were both taken at Watan, Bhamo Hills, at about 7,000 feet. I retain this race with very great doubt and am convinced that with a better series of this and the previous form the S. I. sinlu- mensis will have to be suppressed. Kauriensis, it should be