274 SYSTE3IA TIC SYNOPSIS. — PA SSEBES — OSCINES 



Excepting some Old World forms of doubtful affinity, and the species of Anortlmra proper, 

 the TroqlodijtidcB are confined to America ; and if thus restricted are susceptible of better 

 definition. About one hundred species or varieties are r(!cognized, usually referred to about 

 sixteen genera, most of which belong to tropical America, where the group reaches its maxi- 

 mum development, — over twenty species of Campylorhynchus being described, for instance. 

 Of North American genera, Campylorhynchus, Catherpes and Salpinctes are confined to the 

 West, and represent a section distinguished by the breadth of the tail-feathei-s, which widen 

 toward the end. Species of all our other genera are common and familiar eastern birds, much 

 alike in disposition, manners, and habits ; the house wren typifies these. They are sprightly, 

 fearless, and impudent little creatures, apt to show bad temper when they fancy themselves 

 aggrieved by cats or people, or anything else that is big and unpleasant to them ; they quarrel 

 a good deal, and are particularly spiteful towards martins and swallows, whose homes they 

 often invade and occupy. Their song is bright and hearty, and they are fond of their own 

 music; when disturbed at it they make a great ado with noisy scolding. Part of them live in 

 reedy swamps and marshes, where they hang astonishingly big globular nests, with a little hole 

 in one side, on tufts of rushes, and lay six or eight dark colored eggs ; the others nest any- 

 where, in shrubbery, knotholes, hollow stumps, and other odd nooks. Nearly all are migratory; 

 one is stationary ; one comes to us in the fall from the north, the rest in spring from the south. 

 Insectivorous, and very prolific, laying several sets of eggs each season. Plainly colored, the 

 browns being the usual colors ; no red, blue, yellow, or green in any of our species. 



Analysis of SnbfamUies, Genera, and Species. 

 CampyIiORHyitchin^. Feet not strictly lamiiiiplantar, the lateral i>lates divided, or not i)erfectly fused in one. 

 Tail broad, fan-shaped, the individual feathers widening toward the end. 

 Very large ; length about 8 inches. Tarsus decidedly scutellate behind. Lateral toes of equal lengths. 



Above streaked with white, below spotted with black Campylorhynchus 



Black and white bars of tail chiefly on outer webs of the feathers C. brunneicapillus 65 



Black and white bars of tail chiefly on both webs of the feathers C. affinis 64 



Smaller, about 6.00 long. Tarsus scutellate behind. Lateral toes of unequal lengths 



Salpinctes {S. obsoletus) 65 

 SmaUer, about 5.50 long. Tarsus scarcely scutellate behind. Lateral toes of unequal lengths 



Catherpes (C. mexicanus) 66, 67 

 TBOGLODYTm^. Feet strictly larainiplantar, as usual in Oscines. Tail thin, with narrow parallel-edged 

 feathers. Wings and tail more or less completely barred cross- wise. 

 Large. Upper parts uniform in color, without streaks or bars ; rump vrith concealed white spots. Belly 

 unmarked ; a conspicuous superciliary stripe. 



Tail shorter or not longer than the wing, all the feathers brown, distinctly barred 



Thryothorus {T. ludovicianus) 68, 69, 70 

 Tail decidedly longer than the wing, blackish, not fully barred on all the feathers 



Thryothorus {T. bemcki) 71, 72, '*< 

 Small. Upper parts not uniform, the back being more or less distinctly barred cross- wise; wings, tail, 

 and flanks fully barred. 



Tail about equal to the wing, the outstretched feet reaching scarcely or not beyond its end 



Troglodytes {T. domesticus) 74,75 

 Tail decidedly shorter than the wing, the outstretched feet reaching far beyond its end 



Aiwrthura (A. troglodytes) 76, 77, 7«» 

 Small. Upper parts not uniform, the back being streaked length-wise ; flanks scarcely or not barred. 

 Bill about § as long as head ; crown plain ; streaks of back confined to interscapular region 



Telmatodytes (T. palustris) 79, 8« 

 Bill scarcely or not J as long as head; crown streaked, like the whole back 



Cistotlwrus ( C. steUarls) 8* 



9. Subfamily CAMPYLORHYNCHIN/E : Fan.tailed Wrens. 



For characters of this group and analysis of its genera, see above. 

 19. CAMPYLiORHYN'CHUS. {(:ir. KafiirvKos, Icampiilos, hent; pvyxoi, rhngchos, heak.) Cac- 

 TU.s Wrens. Of largest size in this family ; length about 8.00 inches. Tarsus scutdlate 

 behind. Lateral toes of equal lengths. Wings and tail of about equal lengths. Tail broad, 



