385. Franklinia cinereicapilla.
Hodgson's Wren- Warbler.
Prinia cinereocapilla, Hodgs., Moore, P. Z. S. 18-34, p. 77 ; Horsf. & M. Cat. i, p. 322 ; Jerd. B. l. ii, p. 172; Hume, N. & E. p. 341; Brooks, S. F. iii, p. 242; Hume, S. F. vii, p. 320; id. Cat. no. 537 ; id. S. F. ix, p. 280. Cisticola cinereicapilla (Moore), Sharpe, Cat. B. M. vii, p. 256. Franklinia cinereicapilla (Hodgs.), Oates in Humeis N. & E. 2nd ed. i, p. 246,
Coloration. In winter the forehead and a supercilium are rufous ; crown, nape, lores, and a band behind the eye dark bluish ashy, narrowly cross-barred with blackish ; upper plumage and edges of wing bright rufous; tail rufous, tipped paler, and with a subterminal dark band; cheeks, ear-coverts, and the whole lower plumage pale fulvous. The summer plumage is not known. In the dry state the bill is deep black and the legs fleshy brown.
Length in winter about 4.7; tail in winter 2.4; wing 1.7; tarsus .8; bill from gape .6.
Distribution. This rare species was procured by Hodgson in some part of Nepal, and his birds are in the British Museum. I have seen specimens that were procured by Mandelli in the Bhutan Doars, and by Brooks at Dhunda on the Bhagiruthee river. Blanford (J. A. S. B. xl, pt. ii, p. 165) notes this bird from Sikhim, but his description does not in the least agree with this species, but rather with F. rufescens.
Hume surmises (l. c.) that F. cinereicapilla may be an abnormal variety of Prinia socialis, but the different number of tail-feathers in the two species is quite sufficient to negative such an idea.
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