TROGLODYTID^— THE WRENS. 133 



entrance was a covered passage, varying from six to ten inches in length. 

 The eggs, six in number, he described as being of a delicate salmon-color, 

 very pale, and often so thickly speckled with ash and darker salmon-colored 

 spots as to give quite a rich cast to the whole surface of the egg. 



Lieutenant Couch met with these birds near Monterey. He states that 

 they have a rich, powerful song. Of the nest he gives substantially the 

 same description as tliat furnished by Dr. Heermann. 



The eggs are of an oblong-oval shape, slightly more pointed at one end, 

 and are so equally and generally covered, over a white ground, with fine 

 sabnon-colored spots, as to present a uniform and almost homogeneous 

 appearance. Tliey vary in length from an inch to 1.02 inches, and have 

 an average breadth of .68 of an inch. 



Campylorhynchus aflanis, Xantus. 



THE CAPE CACTUS WREN. 



Campylorhynclius affinis, Xantu.s, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1859, 298 (Cape St. Lucas). — Baird, Pr. 



A. N. Sc. 1859, 303; Rev. 100. —ScL. Catal. 1861, 17, no. 108. — Elliot, Illust. 



B. N. A. I, IV. —Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 62. 



Sp. Char. Cap of head reddish-brown ; the concealed centres of feathers dusky. 

 Rest of upper parts grayish-brown, all the feathers of body and scapulars with broad cen- 

 tial or shaft streaks of whitish edged with black; the streaks irregular in outline, on some 

 feathers nearly linear, in others widening at intervals along the shaft. Outer webs of the 

 wing-feathers crossed by about seven rows of whitish semicircular spots, with correspond- 

 ing series of more circular ones on the inner web. Tail-feathers black, all of them with a 

 series of about eight quadrate white spots on each web, which are alternate to each other 

 not opposite, and extend from or near the black shaft to the edge ; the extreme tips of the 

 feathers black ; the two central feathers, however, more like the back, with irreo-ular mot- 

 tling of grayish and black. Upper tail-coverts barred transversely with black. 



Under parts white, faintly tinged with rusty posteriorly; each feather spotted with 

 black, excepting on the immaculate chin. These spots are rather larger and more quad- 

 rate on the jugulum, where they are sometimes on the sides of the feathers (on one 

 or both sides) ; posteriorly, however, they are elongated or tear-shaped, and strung along 

 the shaft, one or two on each. On the crissum they are large and much rounded, three or 

 four on each longer feather. Legs rather dusky. Bill lead-color, pale, at the base below ; 

 iris reddish-brown. A broad white stripe from bill over the eye and nape; edged 

 above and below with black ; line behind the eye like the crown ; cheek-feathers white, 

 edged with blackish. 



Immature specimens exhibit a tendency to a whitish spotting in the ends of the feathers 

 of the cap. A very young bird does not, however, differ materially, except in having the 

 spots less distinct beneath, the white streaks less conspicuous above, the white of the 

 wings soiled Avitli rufous. Specimens vary considerably in the proportional as well as 

 absolute thickness and length of the bill ; thus. No. 32,167 measures .80 from nostril to end 

 of bill, instead of .GO, as given below for No. 12,965. 



12,965. Total length, 7.50 ; wing, 3.30 ; tail, 3.40 ; its graduation, .45 ; exposed portion 

 of first primary, 1.42, of second, 2.15, of longest, or fourth (measured from exposed base of 

 first primary), 2.45; length of bill from Ibrehead, .90, from nostril, .60; along gape, 1.07; 



