CHAM^AD^E — THE GROUND-TITS. 



83 



Family CKAMMABM. — The Ground-Tits. 



Char. Bill compressed, short, rather conical, not notched nor decurved. Culmen 

 sharp-ridged. Nostrils linear, with an incumbent scale. Rictal bristles reaching beyond 

 nostrils, which are scantily ovei'hung by bristly feathers. Loral feathers bristly and 

 directed forwards. Tarsi booted, or covered with a continuous plate anteriorly, with 

 faint indications of scutelte on the inner side. Basal joint of middle toe attached for 

 about half its length on either side. Primaries ten ; sixth quill longest. Plumage very lax. 



We have found it impossible to assign the genus Chamwa to any recog- 

 nized family of American birds, and have accordingly been obliged to give it 

 independent rank in this re- 

 spect, although it may prop- 

 erly belong to some Old 

 World group with which we 

 are not acquainted. In its 

 general appearance it ap- 

 proaches the Farida' in loose 

 plumage, bristly lores, want 

 of notch to bill, etc. ; but 

 differs in the very mucli 

 bristled rictus, sharp-ridged 

 culmen, linear nostrils, booted tarsi, less amount of adhesion of the toes, etc. 



It approaches the Sijlviidce in the 

 sharp-ridged culmen and bristly gape, 

 but is otherwise very different. The 

 excessively rounded wing is a pecu- 

 liar feature, the sixth primary being 

 the longest. 



The family may, perhaps, be best 

 placed between the Sylviidm and 

 Paridcc. 



Tliis family has but one representa- 

 tive {Chamcca fasc lata) , and this con- 

 fined to the coast region of California. 

 Tlie characters of the genus are those 

 of the family. 



Chaynifafasciata. 



ChanifEa fasc lata. 



Genus CHAMPA, Gambel. 



Chnmcea, Gambel, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phil. Ill, 1847, 154. (Type, Partis fasciatus.) 

 But one species of this genus has as yet been described. 



