506 NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



inferior extremity the plates are reduced to oval scales. The plate along the inner 

 face is also divided into two or three ]ilatc8, sometimes more, usually less, distinct than 

 on the outer." Dr. E. Cones, in finding, as he tlionglit, a similar arrangement in 

 Canipylorliijuchits, went so far as to assert that "these points ... go to show that 

 their j)osition in that family [Troglodytidse] is not assured," and to base a sub-family 

 chiefly \ipon this character. There is no need of such a proceeding, however, for I 

 have examined the tar-sus of quite a number of udidt cactus-wrens, and found them to 

 be absolutely typical laminiplantar. Dr. Cones must have examined an exception.al 

 specimen or a yoitiuj bird, for in the latter the division of tlie hind j)lates is present 

 and (piite cons])icuous. This very fact shows j)lainly that there is no essential differ- 

 ence between the taxaspidean and the laininii)lantar tarsus, the latter Ijeing simply a 

 development of the former, just in the same way as the 'booted' tarsus is a develop- 

 ment of the regular anteriorly sculellated tarsus, as sliown by the division of the ante- 

 rior j)late in the yo\ing thrushes. The case, beside.^, is not unique among the Oscines. 

 As well miglit we doubt the acromyodian character of the raven (Fig. 234), and tax- 

 aspidean tarsi are found in .several forms belonging to the Pycnonotinse, Oriolidje, 

 Prinonopiiue, etc., tlie actual ])osition of which cannot be doubted. 



The general habits of tlio wi-ens are so well known that we shall only introduce a 

 brief sketch by Mr. II. D. .Minot of the cafioji wren {Cathevpes conspersus) as 

 observed bv him in Colorailo : " At ^Nlanitou, local aljout canons and rock formations, 

 dod"in'4, (lutteriTig, and creeping about cliffs and caves. Easily recognized by its 

 white throat and rich yellowish brown t;ul, and by its notes, — a peculiar insect-like 

 chirp, and a delightful song of f.-illing whistles, not loud or intense, l)ut somewhat 

 ecstatic, as if the Viiid hurried through till out of breath. After early June this song 

 is not often to be heard. June 8, I founil a nest .and five fresh eggs. The nest was 

 in the roof of a cave, about ten feet from the ground, m a niche or pocket, with an 

 opening so narrow, vertically, that I could neither look in nor introduce my hand. 

 Fortunately, however, the rock was so soft that I easily removed the bottom slab on 

 which the nest rested. This, as one looks down ujwn it, suggests the eastern wood 

 pewee's. It is composed of twigs, stalks, and bits of leaves, surrounded by a few 

 loose sticks, and tliickly felted with down, silk, and a few feathers." 



An interesting troglodytinc geinis is the Indian Pnapyga, with booted tarsi, like 

 the dippers, and very short tail, which is invisible, being completely hidden by the 

 tail-coverts and the feathers of the rump. 



The so-called ground-tit, or ]ierha])s better wren-tit ( Chamwa fasciata), a remark- 

 ably isolated form both as to characters and habitat, being confined to California, has 

 very little in common with the true tits except the very long, soft, ami lax jilumage. 

 A s])ecial family, C'n.\.\t.i:ii>.i:, has been established for it, but I see no reason for sepa- 

 rating it so far from the Troglodytidie, from which it seems to differ chiefly by the 

 ])resence of strong rictal bristles, and, accordingly, I am most inclined to regard the 

 ChanuTime only as a sub-family of the wrens. Their habits .seem also to be very 

 wren-like, but the information is somewhat scanty. Here is what Dr. J. G. Cooper 

 says about them: "This interesting link between the wrens and the tit-mice is 

 common everywhere west of the Sierra Nevada, on dry plains and hillsides covered 

 with cha))]ieral and other shrubby undergrowth, but is not fonnil in the forests. It_ 

 is one of those birds that can live where there is no water, except occasional 

 fogs, for six or eight months together. In these dreary 'barrens' its loud trill is 

 heard more or less throughout the year, but especially on spring mornings, when they 



