RIMATOR MALACOPTILUS. Buu.
Long-billed Wren.

Rinator malacoptilus, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xvi. pp. 154, 864, 878.—Ann. Nat. Hist., n. s., vol. xx.
p. 317.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 338.—Horsf. & Moore, Cat. of Birds in
Mus. East-Ind. Comp., vol. ii. p. 717.—Jerd. Birds of India, vol. i. p. 493.

Caulodromus Grace, G. R. Gray, Proc. of Zool. Soc., part xv., 1847, p. 6.—Id. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 144,
pl. 44. fig. 2.—Ann. Nat. Hist., n.s., vol. xix. p. 352.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., tom. i. p. 225.

Merva Jerdoni, Hodgs. Cale. Journ. Nat. Hist., 1847, p. 96.

Karriak tungbrek-pho of the Lepchas.

 

Tue bird figured on the accompanying Plate must be regarded as one of the most curious and highly
interesting species comprised in the Indian avifauna. It appears to be as scarce as it is singular in
structure (for at present it is only known to us from the few skins that have been collected by Mr. Hodgson
and one or two other observers); and a great length of time will probably elapse before we become acquainted
with its habits and economy. Its proper situation in our systems is very questionable ; Mr. Jerdon places it
near Troglodytes, assigns to it the trivial name of the Long-billed Wren, and has little doubt of the propriety
“Mr. Blyth,” says he, “calls it a Myiotherine bird, approaching the Wrens.
Gray puts it in his family Certhine, as does Prince Bonaparte, but quite erroneously, I think.” Its very short,
almost an apology for a tail, its rounded wings, long bill, stout tarsi, lengthened hind toes and claws, and
brown plumage, all indicate that it habitually resorts to the ground, or that the boles of fallen trees and
moss-covered stones in the humid forests are the places it usually frequents. We should like to know the
character and shape of its nest, whether open or domed, like that of Troglodytes, ae EL and number
of its eggs, the nature of its song, if any, and if the sexes assimilate in form and size and in the colouring

of their plumage : with respect to this is that there is no visible difference.

latter point the probability 1
Trusting I may live to read a more full account of the history of this highly curious bird from the
pens of some of the young and rising ornithol

ogists of our Indian Empire, I must now content myself with

subjoining Mr. Jerdon’s brief note respecting it. He says :— , 7
“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.”
Upper surface deep brown, with fulvous shafts ;
primaries and tail deep brown, slightly tinged with rufous ;

tint ; a black streak on each side of the throat ; flanks ferrugino four: irides Irene bream
bill fleshy at the base, dark horn-colour at the tip; legs brownish flesh-colour 5 1r g

The figures are of the natural size.

of the position he has given it.

scapularies and interscapularies mingled black and brown ;
under surface pale brown, striated with a darker
us olive ; under tail-coverts dark rust-red ;