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T t O C i© B Y T E S B I IP A U E M 'S IS , Modas.
TROGLODYTES NIPALENSI S , Hodgs.
Nepaulese Wren.
Troglodytes Nipalensis, Hodgs. Joum. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xiv. p. 589.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. of
Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 158.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 222, Troglodytes, sp. 3.
------------ subhemalayanus, Hodgs. in Gray’s Zool. Misc., p. 82.—Gray, Cat. of Spec, and Draw, of Mamm. and
Birds pr. to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson, Esq., pp. 62—151.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i.
p. 158, Troglodytes, sp. 2.
H e r e we have a representative in the Himalayas and Nepaul of the Common European Wren ( Troglodytes
Europeeus), the forms of the two birds being as similar as they well can be, but the Indian species has
characters by which it may a t all times be distinguished from the European o n e ; it is rather smaller in size,
has shorter wings and tail, is of a much darker colour, and has both the upper and under surface o f nearly
the same hue,—a dark reddish brown, transversely rayed with black.
In the whole of its habits and ecopomy it doubtless as closely assimilates to its European ally as it does
in its outward form. Among Mr. Hodgson’s Drawings in the British Museum, this bird is figured under
the MS. name o f T. subhemalayanus, but I believe this appellation was never published by him, and I have
therefore adopted the term o f Nipalensis, which both Mr. Blyth and the Prince o f Canino considered to be
Mr. Hodgson’s first name for the species.
The sexes do not present any difference whatever in colour or markings, but the female is a trifle less
than the male in size.
I am indebted to H. E. Strickland, Esq., for the loan o f examples o f this bird, which with others in my
own possession enables me to give correct delineations of this pretty representative of the European Wren.
The whole of the plumage dark chocolate-brown, transversely rayed with black, the rays showing conspicuously
on the primaries, secondaries, tail-feathers and abdomen, where the chocolate hue is somewhat
paler than on the other portions o f the plumage : a t the tip of each of the wing-coverts a minute spot of
white ; bill blackish brown ; feet fleshy brown.
The figures are of the natural size.