TiiO( ;lodytid.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 l>etween them and 

 the anterior scutella'. ( )ther characters will be found detailed in the Iteview 

 of American Birds, p. 109. 



Salpinctes obsoletus, Caban. 



BOCKWBEN. 



Trotjhnlijtts obsohtm. Say, Lcnig's EximhI. II, 1823, 4 (south fork of Platte). —Am, Oiii. 

 Biog. IV, pi. Kclx. - Ib. B. a. II, pi. c.wi. — Newbekky, V. K. K. K«'p. VI, iv, 

 1857, 80. — Hkkumann, P. 1{. W. Utp. X, 1S59, 41. Snlpindcs obxi>htus, Cab. Wieg- 

 inaiin's Aivhiv, 1S47, i, 32:3. - lUiiri), Birds N. Am. 1858, 357 ; Rev. 110. — Sclateu, 

 P. Z. S. 1859, 371 (OaxacaK — Cool'KK, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 64. ? Trwjloilijtes laHs- 

 fusciatus, 'jcUT. Pnis-Verzcich. 1831, no. 82. 



Sp. Char. Pluinagi' very soft aii<l lax. Bill about as long as the head. Upper parts 

 brownish-jifray. each teatlicr with a central 

 line and (except on the head) transverse l»ars 

 of diiskv, and a snial' dull brownisii-whiti! 

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

 secondaries). Runi{), sides of the body, and 

 posterior ])art of belly and under tail-coverts 

 dull cinnamon, darker above. Rest of under 

 parts (Hrty white: feathers of throat and 

 breaf.t with dusky central streaks. Lower 

 tail-coverts banded broadly with black. In- 

 ner tail-feathers like the ba<-k, the cithers 

 with a broad black bar near the end ; the 

 tips cinnamon ; the outer on each sidi; alter- 

 nately banded with this color and black. 

 A dull white line above and behind the eye. Tris brown. Length, 5.70; wing, 2.82; 

 2.40. Young not rnarke<l or banded beneatii. p]ggs white, spotte<i with red. 



IIab. Central regions of the United States, to >rexico, east to mouth of "*' '' ^on 

 River. Cajjc St. Lucas. Not recordeil from Paeilio slope. W. Arizona, Couf ..^a^a, 



SCL.\TER. 



Habits. The TJock Wren, so far as its distribution is knov is principally 

 restricted to the high central plains of the Ilocky Mounta' , t'rom Nebraska 

 to the coast ranges near the PaciHc, and from (Oregon t( .\re.xico and Lower 

 California. According to Or. Cooper it is an abundai species throughout 

 the dry, rocky, and barren districts of California, espec.a ly in the southern 

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

 ])lains on both sides of the llocky Mountains. Tlieir favorite places are 

 aniony: the rtjcks, where they are alwavs busilv enijaged in hunting for insects 

 in the crevices. Dr. Co(»}»er found nests at San Diego in cavities under the 

 tiled roofs of houses, but tliev all contained voung as earlv as Alav. At 

 Fort Mojave they began to sing in February, and their soifg continued 

 throughout the spring. They range to a Ingli elevation among the moun- 



Salpinctts obsoUtus. 



