234 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



tarsus, 1.02 ; middle toe and claw, .90 ; claw alone, .25 ; hind toe and claw, .76 ; claw 

 alone, .35. 



Hab. Only observed at Cape St. Lucas, Lower California. 



This species is most nearly allied to C. hrunneicapillus ; the most apparent 

 difierence at first sight being in the greater concentration of black on the 

 throat and jngiilum in brmineicapillus, and the mnch smaller size of the 

 remaining spots on the under parts, with the decided light-cinnamon of 

 the posterior portion of the body. The outer and central tail-feathers alone 

 are marked as in C. affinis, the intermediate ones being entirely black, with 

 the exception of a white subterminal band. 



This is one of the most characteristic birds constituting the isolated fauna 

 of Cape St. Lucas. Like nearly all the species peculiar to this remarkable 

 locality, it is exceedingly abundant, breeding in immense numbers. It has 

 not yet been detected elsewhere, though it may possibly be found on the 

 Lower Colorado. 



Habits. This recently described species was first discovered by Mr. 

 Xantus, and has, so far as is known, a somewhat restricted locality, having 

 been met with only at the southern extremity of Lower California, where it 

 is an exceedingly almndant bird. Mr. Xantus has published no observations 

 in regard to its habits, which, however, are probably veiy nearly identical 

 with those of the more common species. From the brief memoranda given 

 by him in the general register of his collections, made at Cape St. Lucas, we 

 gather that their nests were built almost exclusively in opuntias, cacti, and 

 the prickly pear, and were generally only four or five feet from the ground, 

 but occasionally at the height of ten feet. 



The nests are large purse-shaped collections of twigs and coarse grasses, 

 very similar to, and hardly distinguishable in any respect from, those of the 

 more northern species. The eggs vary from 1.05 to 1 inch in length, and 

 from .65 to .70 of an inch in breadth, and have a reddish-white ground very 

 uniforndy dotted with fine markings of reddish-brown, purple, and slate. 



Subgenus SALPINCTES, Cabanis. 



Salpivctes, Cabanis, Wiegmann's Archiv, 1847, i, 323. (Type, Troglodytes obsoUtus, 

 Say.) 



GrEN. Char. Bill as long as the head ; all the outlines nearly straight to the tip, then 

 decurved ; nostrils oval. Feet weak ; tarsi decidedly longer than the middle toe ; outer 

 lateral toe much longer, reaching to the base of the middle claw, and equal to the hinder. 

 Wings about one fifth longer than the tail ; the exposed portion of the first primary about 

 half that of the second, and two fifths that of the fourth and fifth. Tail-feathers very 

 broad, plane, nearly even or slightly rounded ; the lateral moderately graduated. 



Of this genus but one species is so far known in the United States, the 

 Rock Wren of the earlier ornithologists. It is peculiar among its cognate 



