WRENS, THRASHERS, ETC. 443 



less sharply defined, spots on under parts smaller, and colors more suffused. 

 Length : S.00-8.T'), wing o.o0-o.5(), tail ;5.2.")-o..">0, exposed culmen .80-.95. 



Distribution. — Resident in Lower Sonoran zone, from southern Texas 

 west to southern California, and from southwestern Utah to central Mexico. 



Nest. — In cactus, yucca, or thorny bush, bulky, flask-shaped, in hori- 

 zontal position, entrance at mouth of flask ; made of sticks and coarse 

 straws, lined with feathers. Eggs : 4 to 7. whitish or bnffy often hidden 

 by reddish brown spotting-. 



Brunneicapillufi seems on first acquaintance, in a cactus and mes- 

 quite thicket, the most unwren-like of wrens. Its big size, black- 

 ish color, and grating, monotonous chut, chut, chut, chut, have little 

 to suggest its small brown, sweet-voiced relatives. Its pose, how- 

 ever, is like that of the Carolina wren, for it sings on top of a 

 bare branch, with head up and tail hanging. It is a conspicuous 

 bird in that strange land of cactus, mesquite, and yucca, and fits 

 into its desert surroundings as well as its odd nest does in among 

 the yucca bayonets or cactus thorns. Its nests are so common that 

 in driving through the country one comes to pass them without 

 comment, unless the eye is caught by a particularly perfect retort 

 form for a photograph. 



In New Mexico, Mr. Anthony found the wrens repairing their 

 nests in the fall, and thinks that they roost in them in winter, and 

 use them for protection against storms. He believes that each pair 

 of wrens keep several nests in order for this purpose. 



713a. H. b. bryanti Anthony. Bryant Cactus Wren. 



Similar to hrunneicapilbis, but thick ovate spotting extending over belly 

 and sides ; xuider parts washed with rusty, and tail with middle feathers 

 more or less perfectly barred. 



Distribution. — From .southern California south to Lower California. 



GENUS SALPINCTES. 



715. Salpinctes obsoletus (.SV///). Rock Wken.i 



liill about as long as head, slender, compressed, decurved at tip; wing 

 longer than tail ; tail rounded, feath- 

 ers broad ; feet small and weak ; tar- 

 sus longer than middle toe, scaled 

 behind. Adults: Upjjer parts (/ull 



grayish /<ro(/-H. finely flecked \vithl)lack „. rg,, 



and white dots; rumj) light l)ro\\ n ; 



tail graduated, tipi)ed with buily brown and with subterminal baud of 

 black ; middle tail feathers narrowly barred with blackish ; under parts 

 dull whitish, brownish on flanks ; chest usually finely speckled. Young : 

 upper ])arts rusty gray : uiuler parts whitish anteriorly, brownish on flanks 

 and Jinder tail coverts. Ltugth: ^).\'l-i\:.)h. wing 2.(»S-2.S0. tail 2.12-'J.4(K 

 bill from nostril .44-.rj4. 



' Salpinrte.^ obsolelu.% i>ulvrri)tx i\r\\\\w\\. San Nicolas Hock Wkf.n. 

 Like r;fc,?o/^/»/.<, but entire phiinnKe mitfused with oclir.ireous or dust eolor. 

 Distribution. — San Nicolas laland, California. (Thr .\uk, xv. "J^S.) 



