TROGLODYTID.E — THE WRENS. 



131 



Back without streaks. No distinct superciliary stripe. Troglodytes. 



Bill curved, sub-conical. Tail as long as wing. Subgenus Troglodytes. 

 Bill straight, subulate. Tail much shorter than wing. 



Subgenus A north ur a. 

 Back streaked with black and white. Cistothorus. 



Bill short, stout; its depth equal to one hall' its length from 

 the nostril ; gonys straight or even convex, ascending. Crown 

 streaked ; no distinct supercihary stripe. Subgenus Cistot h o r u s. 

 Bill elongated, slender ; its depth less than one third its length 

 from the nostril ; gonys slightly concave, declining. Crown not 

 streaked; a conspicuous superciliary stripe. Subgenus Telmatodytes. 



Genus CAMPYLORHYNCHUS, Spix. 



Campi/lorhi/nchiis, Spix, Av. Bras. I, 1824, 77. 

 variegatus, Gmel. ) 



(Type, C. sc,olo2mceus, Spix = Turdus 



Gen. Char. Bill stout, compressed, as long as, or longer than the head, without notch 

 or rictal bristles; culmen and com- 



missure curved; gonys nearly straight. 

 Nostrils in the antero-inferior part of 

 nasal groove, in advance of the frontal 

 feathers, with an overhanging scale 

 with thickened edge, as in Tliryotlio- 

 rus ; sometimes, as in the type, re- 

 duced to a slight ridge along the upper 

 side of the nasal groove. Lateral sep- 

 tum not projecting below or anterior- 

 ly into the nasal cavity, but concealed 

 by the nasal scale. Tarsus a little 

 longer than middle toe and claw ; 

 claws strong, much curved, and very 

 sharp ; middle toe with basal joint 



adherent almost throughout. WmgS Campylorhymhus bmmiekapittus. 



and tail about equal, the latter graduated ; the exterior webs of lateral feathers broad. 



This genus embraces tlie largest species of tiie family, and is well rep- 

 resented in Middle and South America, two species only reaching into 

 North America, which may be distinguished as follows : — 



Top of head and post-ocular stripe reddish-brown ; back streaked longitudi- 

 nally and linearly with white. All the feathers beneath conspicuously spotted. 

 Crissum and flanks with rounded or elongated spots. Iris reddish. Nostrils 

 inferior, linear, overhung by a scale. Nests large and purse-shaped; eggs white, 

 profusely marked with salmon-colored or reddish spots. 



a. Spots much larger on throat and jugulum than elsewhere. Inner webs 

 of second to fifth tail-feathers (between middle and outer feathers) black, 

 except at tips. Length, 8.00 ; wing, 3.40 ; tail, 3.55. JIah. Adjacent bor- 

 ders of United States and Mexico ....... hrunneicapillus. 



h. Spots on throat and jugulum little larger than elsewliere. Inner webs of 

 intermediate tail-feathers banded witli white like the outer. Length, 7.50. 

 Hah. Cape St. Lucas ........... nffinis. 



