70 TROGLODYTIDZA. 
Hab. Mexico 1, La Parada‘ and Llano Verde ® (Boucard), Jalapa (de Oca*), Orizaba 
(Sumichrast *, le Strange). 
For some years this bird was supposed by Mr. Sclater to be the Picolaptes mega- 
lopterus of Lafresnaye, described in 1845; but Prof. Baird, who examined the question 
very fully 7, came to the conclusion that the name C. pallescens was more strictly 
applicable to it; and his verdict has since been allowed to stand. 
The species is restricted in its range to the highlands of Southern Mexico, the 
alpine region of the States of Vera Cruz and Oaxaca being its home, where it 
would appear to be by no means uncommon. Prof. Sumichrast ® gives as its vertical 
range 5000 to 6500 feet, and says that he does not doubt that de Oca’s specimens 
from Jalapa were obtained in the neighbouring mountains. It would thus seem to 
occupy a more elevated tract of country in Mexico than C. zonatus, which is also found 
in the same States. 
We have no trace of the species in Guatemala, or elsewhere in Central America ; 
but in Ecuador a closely allied bird, C. balteatus, occurs, in the western parts of that 
country. 
Of the true C. megalopterus, said by its describer, Lafresnaye, to be from Mexico, we 
have had no tidings of late years; nor has it been satisfactorily shown to what country 
it actually belongs, if, indeed, it is really distinct from C. padlescens. 
SALPINCTES. 
Salpinctes, Cabanis, Arch. f. Naturg. xiii. p. 323 (1847) (type Zroglodytes obsoletus, Say); Baird, 
Rev. Am. B.i. p. 109. 
This genus and Catherpes have remarkably weak feet and toes compared with other 
genera of Troglodytide, the lateral toes being very short. This is especially the case 
in Salpinctes, in which the inner toe (without the claw) falls short of the distal end of 
the second phalange of the middle toe, and the outer toe hardly passes it. All the 
claws in these two genera are much compressed, and have a deep lateral depression on 
each side. The tarsus in Salpinctes is peculiar in having the posterior surface enclosed 
in several scutelle instead of a single plate, as in Catherpes and Troglodytide generally. 
The bill is long, and depressed in a rather abrupt curve towards the end, near which a 
slight notch is visible on the cutting-edge. The nostril is elongated, a membrane 
slightly overhanging it. The nasal opening is pointed at its distal and rounded at its 
proximal ead. The texture of the plumage is soft. 
Until quite recently, Salpinctes contained but a single species, though Catherpes was 
for some time associated with it. A second species or race has since been discovered 
inhabiting the small island of Guadalupe, situated in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of 
California *. 
* Ridgway, Bull. U.S. Geol. & Geogr. Surv. of Terr. ii, no. 2. p. 185. 
