ROCKY-MOUNTAIN WREN. 435 



outer tail-feathers not more than half the length of the middle ones. 

 Legs and bill dusky-brown, the lower mandible paler. 



ROCKY-MOUNTAIN WREN. 



(Troglodytes obsoleta, Say. Myothera obsoleta, Bonap. Am. Orn. i. 

 p. 6. pi. 1. fig. 2. Phil. Museum, No. 2420.) 



Sp. Charact. — Dusky-brownish, waved with paler lines; beneath 

 whitish marked with brown ; tail long and rounded, bordered with 

 ferruginous yellow ; bill one inch long. 



This large species was discovered near the Arkansa 

 river, in the neighbourhood of the Rocky Mountains, by 

 Major Long's exploring party, and first described by Mr. 

 T. Say. The individual was a male, obtained in the 

 month of July. The only note at this time heard from it 

 was harsh like the voice of the Tern, (probably a note of 

 alarm from the parent in cautioning its young.) It ap- 

 peared to inhabit a sterile district devoid of trees, hopped 

 along the ground, or flitted through the branches of the 

 low stunted junipers which bordered the river, in small 

 families of five or six individuals. While thus engaged, it 

 spread out its tail, but showed no inclination to climb, 

 perching merely in the usual manner of the other Wrens. 



The Rocky Mountain Wren is 6 inches long. The bill an inch or 

 more from the corner of the mouth to the point, is very slender, and 

 of a dark color. The feet are also dusky ; the tarsus Jth of an inch. 

 Iris dark brown. Above dusky-brownish, slightly undulated with 

 pale lines, and tinted on the top of the head and upper part of the 

 back with dull ferruginous. Sides of the head dull whitish, a brown 

 line passing through the eye. Beneath whitish, with pale brown 

 lines, except the belly which is wholly white, and the flanks slightly 

 tinged with ferruginous. The primaries spotless ; tail-coverts pale, 

 with fuscous bands ; inferior tail-coverts white with dark brown 

 bands. Tail nearly 2 inches, rounded, and obsoletely banded. 



