CHAPTER V. WEEN-TITS 



FAM. 



THIS small group was proposed in 1864, by Professor Baird, 

 for the accommodation of a single genus and species not 

 readily referable to any established familv; although, as its 

 proposer suggested, the bird may belong to some recognized 

 exotic group. Its characters, which are in effect the same as 

 those of the genus Chamcca, are given under head of the latter. 



Genus CHAMJEA Gambel 



CHARS. Form and general aspect combining features of 

 Wrens and Titmice. Plumage extraordinarily lax, soft and full. 

 Coloration simple. Tarsal scute.lla obsolete, or faintly indi- 

 cated. Toes coherent at base for about half the length of the 

 proximal joint of the middle one. Soles widened and padded, 

 much as in Paridce. Primaries 10, the sixth longest, the third 

 equal to the longest secondaries, the first about f as long as 

 the longest; wing thus extremely rounded, and much shorter 

 than the tail (about as long). Tail very long, constituting 

 more than half the entire length of the bird, extremely gradu- 

 ated, with soft, narrow feathers, widening somewhat toward 

 their tips, rounded at the end, the lateral pair not two thirds 

 as long as the middle. Bill much shorter than head, straight, 

 stout, compressed-conical, not notched, with ridged culmen, 

 naked, scaled, linear nostrils, and strongly bristled gape. 



The genus may be found referable to the Troglodytidcc in the 

 vicinity of Cinnicerthia. 



The Wren-tit 



Chamroa fasciata 



ParilS faSCiatllS, Gam?>. Pr. Phila. Acad. ii. 1845, 265 (California;. 



Cbaimea fasciata, Gamb. Pr. Phila, Acad. iii. 1846, 154 (type). Gnmb. Journ. Phila. Acad. 



2<lser. i. 1847, 34, pi. 8, f. 3. Cass. III. i. 1853, 39, pi. 7. Xant. Pr. Phila. Acad. xi. 



1859, 191. Ed. RAB. i. 1864, 76. Coop. Am. Nat. iii. 1869. 185. Coop. B. Cal. i. 1870, 



39, figs. Coues, Key, 1872, 79. Coop. Am. Nat. viii. 1874, 17. B. B. tf Ii. NAB. 



1874, 84, fign., pi. 6, f. 8. Nels. Pr. Bobt. Soc.- xvii. 1875, 356 



