506 NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



inferior extremity the plates are reduced to oval scales. The plate along the inner 

 face is also divided into two or three plates, sometimes more, usually less, distinct than 

 on the outer." Dr. E. Coues, in finding, as he thought, a similar arrangement in 

 Campylorhynchus, went so far as to assert that " these points ... go to show that 

 their position in that family [Troglodytidre] is not assured," and to base a sub-family 

 chiefly upon this character. There is no need of such a proceeding, however, for I 

 have examined the tarsus of quite a number of adult cactus-wrens, and found them to 

 be absolutely typical laminiplantar. Dr. Coues must have examined an exceptional 

 specimen or a young bird, for in the latter the division of the hind plates is present 

 and quite conspicuous. This very fact shows plainly that there is no essential differ- 

 ence between the taxaspidean and the laminiplantar tarsus, the latter being simply a 

 development of the former, just in the same way as the 'booted' tarsus is a develop- 

 ment of the regular anteriorly scutellated tarsus, as shown by the division of the ante- 

 rior plate in the young thrushes. The case, besides, is not unique among the Oscines. 

 As well might we doubt the acromyodian character of the raven (Fig. 234), and tax- 

 aspidean tarsi are found in several forms belonging to the Pycnonotinre, Oriolida?, 

 Prinonopina?, etc., the actual position of which cannot be doubted. 



The general habits of the wrens are so well known that we shall only introduce a 

 brief sketch by Mr. H. D. Minot of the carion wren ( Catherpes conspersus) as 

 observed by him in Colorado: "At Manitou, local about canons and rock formations, 

 dodging, fluttering, and creeping about cliffs and caves. Easily recognized by its 

 white throat and rich yellowish brown tail, and by its notes, a peculiar insect-like 

 chirp, and a delightful song of falling whistles, not loud or intense, but somewhat 

 ecstatic, as if the bird hurried through till out of breath. After early June this song 

 is not often to be heard. June 8, I found a nest and five fresh eggs. The nest was 



oo 



in the roof of a cave, about ten feet from the ground, in a niche or pocket, with an 

 opening so narrow, vertically, that I could neither look in nor introduce my hand. 

 Fortunately, however, the rock was so soft that I easily removed the bottom slab on 

 which the nest rested. This, as one looks down upon it, suggests the eastern wood 

 pewee's. It is composed of twigs, stalks, and bits of leaves, surrounded by a few 

 loose sticks, and thickly felted with down, silk, and a few feathers." 



An interesting troglodytine genus is the Indian Pncvpyya, with booted tarsi, like 

 the dippers, and very short tail, which is invisible, being completely hidden by the 

 tail-coverts and the feathers of the rump. 



The so-called ground-tit, or perhaps better wren-tit ( Chamcea fasciata), a remark- 

 ably isolated form both as to characters and habitat, being confined to California, has 

 very little in common with the true tits except the very long, soft, and lax plumage. 

 A special family, CHAM.EID^E, has been established for it, but I see no reason for sepa- 

 rating it so far from the Troglodytidae, from which it seems to differ chiefly by the 

 presence of strong rictal bristles, and, accordingly, I am most inclined to regard the 

 ChanKeinre only as a sub-family of the wrens. Their habits seem also to be very 

 wren-like, but the information is somewhat scanty. Here is what Dr. J. G. Cooper 

 says about them : " This interesting link between the wrens and the tit-mice is 

 common everywhere west of the Sierra Nevada, on dry plains and hillsides covered 

 with chapperal and other shrubby undergrowth, but is not found in the forests. It 

 is one of those birds that can live where there is no water, except occasional 

 fogs, for six or eight months together. In these dreary ' barrens ' its loud trill is 

 heard more or less throughout the year, but especially on spring mornings, when they 



