CHARACTERS OF CHAMPA FASCIATA 109 



, Cab. Arch. f. Naturg. 1818, Bd.i. 103. Bp. CA. i. 1850, 206. Ed. BXA. 

 1858. 371). Hc.r.rm. PURR. x. 1859, 41. 



Chanii a tasciata, Rd. Stanhbury'tt Kep. GSL. 1832, 332. Allen, Am. Nat. vi. 187^, 350, 404. 

 Ground Wren, Wn-n-tit, Ground-tit, Vulg. 



II AB. California from the Sierra Nevada to the coast, from the Sacra- 

 mento Valley to Sau Diego. 



Cn. SP. (5 2 Olivaceo-fusGa, capite obseuriore, alls cauddque 

 obsolete transfasciatis ; infra pallide cinnamomina, lateribus 

 crusoque obscurioribus, guld etpectore obsolete fmco-striatis. 



Adult : Dark brown with an olive shade, the top of the head, clearer and 

 somewhat streaky, the wings and tail purer brown, obscurely marked with 

 numerous cross-bars ; below dull cinnamon-brown, shaded with olive-brown 

 on the sides and crissum, the throat and breast obscurely streaked with 

 dusky ; bill and feet brown ; iris white. Length about six inches ; wing, 

 2i-2i; tail an inch longer, much graduated, the lateral feathers being an 

 inch or more shorter than the middle ones; bill, ; tarsus,-^-; middle toe 

 and claw, f. First primary nearly an inch shorter than the longest one. 



With a general pariue appearance, this species, as indicated by the above 

 measurements, is of remarkable shape, quite uulik'e that of any other North 

 American bird. It was usually classed with the Pandce, until a separate 

 family was formed for its reception. The tail is ve"ry long, much exceeding 

 the wings, and forms rather more than half the entire length of the bird. 

 The wings are exceedingly short and rounded, the exposed portion of the 

 lirst primary being less than an inch in length. The plumage is remarkably 

 long, soft and lax ; the coloration inconspicuous, blended and diffuse. The 

 tarsal scutella tend to become fused, though a few large plates may com- 

 monly be observed in front. 



THE Wren tit is one of several interesting discoveries made 

 in California by Dr. William G-ambel,of Philadelphia, whose 

 life left an example of how much may be accomplished in a 

 brief space of time by the wise use of natural gifts. He at 

 first called it a Farm, but, soon perceiving its strongly dis- 

 tinctive characters, conferred upon it the appropriate title of 

 Chamcea (/a/tat, "on the ground' 7 ), in allusion to its terrestrial 

 habits. According to his accounts, which remain the most 

 accurate and pertinent of those which have thus far reached 

 me, I gather that its habits are quite Wren-like ; that it in- 

 habits shrubby and weedy places, is restless and active, expert 

 in eluding obversation, and clamorous in resenting intrusion 

 of its haunts, with harsh scolding notes ; that it shares, further- 

 more, the very Wren-like way of holding the tail erect at times, 

 and nervously twitching it. He observed its manner of search- 

 ing for its insect food by scrambling sideways about the weeds 

 and bushes j and speaks of other notes it possesses more musical 



