62 



SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES. 



At San Diego, about May 1st, I foimd several of their nests built in the 

 forks of the most thorny cacti, constructed of grass and fine twigs, with 

 tliick matted AvaUs, and in the form of a purse nine and a half inches 

 long and six wide, laid on its side. The eggs, from four to six, are of a 

 pale salmon red or white, mostly very thickly speckled with ashy and red 

 sjjots. Their size is 1 X 0.68 inch. 



On the barren mountains, west of Colorado Valley I found a nest in 

 May, 18G1, built so openly that tlie young, then half-fledged, could be seen 

 through the walls. Tliis %\as probably adapted for the warmer climate. 



In habits it resembles tlie wren, seeking for insects, and perhaps bun-ies, 

 among the cacti, chiefly on the ground, but I naver saw it climbing, as 

 represented in Cassin's plate. 



It does not seem to I'ange north of lat. 35° in California. 



Campylorhynchus afifinis, Xaxtus. 



THE CAPE CACTUS-WBEN. 



Campi/lorhjnchis affinis, Xantls, I'r. A. N. S. 1859, 29S. — Baikd, lb. 1859, 303. Ib. Rev. 

 Amer. Birds, 180. 



Sp. Cii.\r. This s]H'i-iL's is very similar to C brunneicapillus, but may be readily dis- 

 tinguished by having the sjjots in the lower parts more unifonuly ditlused, instead of being 

 collected on the throat and jugulum. The spots are nuieh larger on the under parts, and 

 the posterior portion of the body lacks the cinnamon tinge. The tail feathers are black, 

 and all barred transver.sely with white, instead of having them entirely black with single 

 white band near the end (excepting the outer), as in hrunnekapillus. 



Hah. Cape St. Lucas. 



