CHAM.EAD.E — THE GROUND-TITS. 



83 



#A 



Family CH AMiESADJE. — The Ground-Tits. 



Char. Bill compressed, short, rather conical, not notched nor decurved. Culmen 

 sliarp-rid<«-ed. Nostrils linear, with an incumbent scale, llictal bristles reaching beyond 

 nostrils, which are scantily overhung by bristly leathers. Loral feathers bristly and 

 directed forwards. Tarsi booted, or covered with a continuous plate anteriorly, with 

 faint indications of scutella? on the inner side. Basal joint of middle toe attached for 

 about half its length on either side. Primaries ten; sixth quill longest. Plumage very lax. 



We liave found it impossible to assign the genus Chamcea to any recog- 

 nized family of American birds, and have accordingly been obliged to give it 

 independent rank in this re- 

 spect, although it may prop- 

 erly belong to some Old 

 World group with which we 

 are not acquainted. In its 

 general appearance it ap- 

 proaches the Paridce in loose 

 plumage, bristly lores, want 

 of notch to bill, etc. ; but 

 differs in the very much 

 bristled rictus, sharp-ridged 

 culmen, linear nostrils, booted tarsi, less amount of adhesion of the toes, etc. 



It approaclies the Sylviidce in the 

 sharp-ridged culmen and bristly gape, 

 but is otherwise very different. The 

 excessively rounded wing is a pecu- 

 liar feature, the sixth primary being 

 the longest. 



The family may, perhaps, be best 

 placed between the Sylviidon and 

 Paridce. 



This family has but one representa- 

 tive {Chcimcea fasciata), and this con- 

 fined to the coast region of California. 

 The characters of the genus are those 

 of the family. 



Chamaafaseiata. 



Chamtna fasciata . 



Genus 



Gambel. 



rhnmmfi, Gambel, Pr. A. N. So. Phil. Ill, 1847, 154. (T\T)e, Parus fasciatus.) 

 But one s[)ecies of this genus has as yet l)een described. 



