TROGLODYTID^E — THE WRENS. 



135 



genera by having the two continuous plates on each side the tarsus divided 

 into seven or more smaller plates, with a naked interval between them and 

 the anterior scutelhe. Other characters will be found detailed in the lieview 

 of American Birds, p. 109. 



Salpinctes obsoletus, Caban. 



ROCK WREN. 



Troglodytes obsoletus, Say, Long's Exjied. II, 1823, 4 (south fork of Platte). — Aud. Orn. 

 Biog. IV, pi. ccclx. — Ib. B. a. II, pi. cxvi. — Nevvbeery, P. R. R. Rep. VI, iv, 

 1857, 80. — Heermann, P. R. R. Rep. X, 1859, 41. Salpinctes obsoletics, Cab. Wieg- 

 maiin's Archiv, 1847, i, 323. — Baird, Birds N.Am. 1858, 357 ; Rev. 110. — Sclater, 

 P. Z. S. 1859, 371 (Oaxaca^. — Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 64. ? Troglodytes latis- 

 fasciatus, Licht. Preis-Verzeich. 1831, no. 82. 



Sp. Char. Plumage very soft and lax. Bill about as long as the head. Upper parts 

 brownish-gray, each feather with a central 

 line and (except on the head) transverse bars 

 of dusky, and a small dull brownish-white 

 spot at the end (seen also on the tips of the 

 secondaries). Rump, sides of the body, and 

 posterior part of belly and under tail-coverts 

 dull cinnamon, darker above. Rest of under 

 parts dirty white ; feathers of throat and 

 breast with dusky central streaks. Lower 

 tail-coverts banded broadly with black. In- 

 ner tail-feathers like the back, the others 

 with a broad black bar near the end; the 

 tips cinnamon ; the outer on each side alter- 

 nately banded with this color and black. 



Salpinctes obsoletus. 



A dull white hne above and behind the eye. Iris brown. Length, 5.70 ; wing, 2.82 ; tail, 

 2.40. Young not marked or banded beneath. Eggs white, spotted with red. 



Hab. Central regions of the United States, to Mexico, east to mouth of Yellowstone 

 River. Cape St. Lucas. Not recorded from Pacific slope. W. Arizona, Coues. Oaxaca, 

 Sclater. 



Habits. The Eock Wren, so far as its distribution is known, is principally 

 restricted to the high central plains of the Rocky Mountains, from Nebraska 

 to the coast ranges near the Pacific, and from Oregon to iNIexico and Lower 

 California. According to Dr. Cooper it is an abundant species throughout 

 the dry, rocky, and barren districts of California, especially in the southern 

 portions, where it comes nearer the coast. They are numerous among the 

 jilains on both sides of the Rocky Mountains. Their favorite places are 

 among the rocks, where they are always busily engaged in liunting for insects 

 in the crevices. Dr. Cooper found nests at San Diego in cavities under the 

 tiled roofs of houses, but they all contained young as early as May. At 

 Fort Mojave they began to sing in February, and tlieir song continued 

 througliout the spring. They range to a high elevation among tlie moun- 



