SALPINCTES. 71 
The metropolis of the genus is the Rocky Mountains, whence it spreads through the 
Mexican and Guatemalan highlands. 
1. Salpinctes obsoletus. 
Troglodytes obsoleta, Say, Long’s Exp. ii. p. 4". 
Salpinctes obsoletus, Cab. Arch. f. Naturg. xiii. p. 3237; Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, p. 871°; Scl. & Salv. 
This, 1860, p. 30*; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 110°; Dugés, La Natur. i. p. 189°; Lawr. 
Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p.137; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 135°; Coues, 
B. Col. Vall. i. p. 159°. 
Troglodytes latifasciatus, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vég. p. 2” (J. f. Orn. 1868, p. 57). 
Supra fusco-griseus obsolete fusco transfasciatus, plumis singulis maculis albis (apicalibus) et nigris (sub- 
apicalibus) notatis, uropygio rufescente; alis et cauda media fuscis nigro frequenter transfasciatis, rectri- 
cibus lateralibus fulvo et nigro late transfasciatis; superciliis indistincte albidis ; subtus albescens, 
hypochondriis paulo rufescentibus, gula sparsim nigro striata, abdomine toto maculis paucis nigris 
notato, crisso nigro variegato; rostro et pedibus obscure corneis. Long. tota 5°5, ale 2°6, caude 2:1, 
tarsi 0°8, rostria rictu 0°85. (Descr. exempl. ex Cachil, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Central region of NortH America and Lower California ®.—Mexico, Coahuila 
(Couch®), Guanajuato (Dugés®), Apam (le Strange), Oaxaca (Boucard*), Caco- 
prieto, Tehuantepec (Sumichrast"); GuaTEMALA *, Quezaltenango, Salama, Rabinal, 
Quiché, and Jutiapa (0.8. & F.D.G@.); San Satvapor, Volcan de Conchagua (0.58.). 
The Rock-Wren (by which name this bird is commonly known in the United States) 
has a wide range throughout the Rocky Mountains, where it was first discovered by Say, 
who accompanied Long’s expedition !. Itis found from British Columbia and Vancouver’s 
Island to Cape San Lucas, and southwards through Mexico to Guatemala and even as 
far as the Gulf of Fonseca. It is, however, generally considered an inland rather than 
a coast species, and in the mountains is found at considerable elevations. Its nesting- 
habits are well known; and observations respecting them have been collected by Dr. 
Coues in his ‘ Birds of the Colorado Valley’. Though noticed by many travellers in 
Mexico, we have no further account of it in that country beyond records of the places 
where it is found. In Guatemala it often came under our observation, as it occurs in 
some numbers in the hills surrounding the plain of Salama wherever open stony places 
are found. Thus, when descending the Salama side of the Cuesta of Chuacus we 
usually saw these birds about some old walls near the foot of the hill; and, again, near 
the summit of the Cuesta of Cachil on the Coban road birds were seldom absent. 
These places are at the comparatively low elevation of from 3000 to 4000 feet above 
the sea. Salpinctes obsoletus, however, was more numerous about Quezaltenango, at an 
elevation of 8000 feet, the stony barren hill-sides of that district being apparently well 
suited to its habits. It is probably a resident species in Guatemala as elsewhere; our 
specimens were obtained at Cachil in November, and at Quezaltenango in August; and 
it was observed at the latter place in February. In March, too, Salvin observed it at 
