TROGLODYTID.E — TTIK WRKXS. 239 



Catherpes mexicanus, yav. conspersus, Piidgway. 



CANON WREN; WHITE-THEOATED EOCK WEEN. 



Troglodylcs mccicamis, Heeumaxn, J. A. N. Sc. 2d sct. II, 1853, 63. — Id. P. R. R. Rep. 

 X, 1859, 41. — Cassin, Illust. Biiils Cal. I, 1854, 173, jil. x.\.\. Cuiherpcs mexicanu-i, 

 Baird, Birds K. Am. 1858, 356 (iu part) ; Rev. Ill (in part). — CuoPEit, Orn. Cal. I, 

 1870, 66. Cnihcrpcs mexicanus var. conspersun, Riuow.w. 



Sp. CnAR. (No. 53,425 <?, near Fort Churchill, Nevada, December 7, 18G7; R. Ridg- 

 WAv). Aliove, brownish-ashy on the anterior, and briglit cinnamoti-rufou.s on the pos- 

 terior half, the two colors shading insensibly together. The anterior, or grayish portion 

 thickly sprinkled with nunierons small circular dots of white, each preceded by a smaller 

 speck of dusky; a few of these dots on the rump. Wings with obsolete, ragged, narrow, 

 isolated bars of dusky, these most sharply defined on the secondaries. Tail clear rufous, 

 crossed with about nine very narrow, thread-like, somewhat zigzag bars of black, — these 

 about .02 wide on the middle, and .07 on tlie outer feather. Beneath, anterior third, pure 

 silky-white, shading insensilily into soft ochraceous on the breast, this soon darkening into 

 deep ferruginous, the color of all the posterior lower .parts ; the whole of this ferruginous 

 surface, with very obsolete transverse spots of white, each preceded by a narrower dusky 

 one. Length, 5.75; extent of wings, 7.50 (fresh); wing, 2.48; tail, 2.1.'i; culmen, .83 ; 

 tarsus, .50. Bill deep slate, paler, and with lilaceous tinge, at Ijase of lower mandible ; 

 iris umber ; tarsi and toes black (fresh colors). 



Hab. Central region of North America, from boundary of United States northward. 

 Extends up Valley of Colorado. Western Nevada, resident ; Ridgway. 



The above characters apply to all specimens of Cuiherpcs from north of 

 Mexico, as substantiated by a sufficient series in the collection. It is a 

 remarkable fact that this northern race should be so much smaller than the 

 ^lexican one, especially in view of the fact that it is a resident bird in even 

 the most northern parts of its ascertained habitat. 



Harit.s. The geographical distribution of this race of the A^liite-throated 

 Wren, so far as known, is confined to the line of the United States and 

 lle.xican boundary, extending northward up the Valley of the Colorado, as 

 far as Western Nevada. The corresponding Mexican race reaches some 

 distance southward, but has not yet been detected beyond the limits of 

 Mexico. The habits of both races, however, are quite similar, as far as 

 known. 



Dr. Heermann first met with this Wren in the spring of 1851, on the 

 Cosumnes Itiver. In the following year he procured three specimens on the 

 Calaveras Eiver. He describes it as an active, sprightly bird, lu'ning a loud 

 and pleasing song that may be heard a great distance, and which it rejieats 

 at short intervals. When found, it was occupied with searching ibr insects, 

 between and under the large boulders of rock that, in some portions of the 

 river, are thrown together in confused lua-sses, as if by some terrific convul- 

 sion of nature. 



Dr. Kennerly also met with this species in similar localities among the 

 liiUs bordering upon the Big Sandy, where the rocks are also described 



