154 THE GENUS CAMPYLORHYNCHUS 



character of the eggs (of two closely related species, for exam- 

 ple, the eggs are in one case white, in the other dark chocolate 

 color) ; but the clutch is always numerous. The Wrens are all 

 plainly colored birds, the browns and grays being the prevail- 

 ing shades; none of our species, at least, and perhaps none of 

 the family, show red, blue, yellow, or green. The dietetic 

 regime'n is insectivorous. 



Species of this family abound in all parts of temperate North 

 America, and one of them also attains the higher latitudes. 

 Among them are some of the best known of our eastern birds; 

 but in the West and Southwest there are several kinds, be- 

 longing to distinct genera, of which less is generally known. I 

 shall take occasion to treat the latter with sufficient particu- 

 larity to reflect all that has been learned of their life-history ; 

 but the more familiar species must be slighted to some extent, 

 since the limits which have been set to the present work forbid 

 the completion of biographies in every case. 



Genus CAMPYLORHYNCHUS Spix 



CHARS. <' Bill stout, compressed, as long as, or longer than 

 the head, without notch or rictal bristles ; culmen and commis- 

 sure curved ; gonys nearly straight. Nostrils in the antero- 

 inferior part of nasal groove, in advance of the frontal feathers, 

 with an overhanging scale with thickened edge, as in Thryo- 

 tliorus; sometimes., as in the type, reduced to a slight ridge 

 along the upper side of the nasal groove. Lateral septum not 

 projecting below or anteriorly into the nasal cavity, but con- 

 cealed by the nasal scale. Tarsus a little longer than the middle 

 toe and claw ; claws strong, much curved, and very sharp : 

 middle toe with the basal joint adherent almost throughout. 

 Wings and tail about equal, the latter graduated ; the exterior 

 webs of lateral feathers broad. In size the largest of the 

 family." (BAIRD.) Tarsi scutellate posteriorly. 



This notable genus consists of some twenty species, inhabit- 

 ing Central and South America, with a single one extending 

 into the United States. A second, found in Lower California, 

 may possibly be hereafter included in our fauna ; it is noted 

 below.* These birds look quite unlike ordinary Wrens, our 

 ideas of which require to be considerably enlarged to include 

 the Campylorhynchi. They illustrate a peculiarity, shared by 



*CampylorhynchUSafflniS, Xant. Pr. Phila. Acad. 1859, 298. Bd. Pr. Phila. Acad. 1859 

 303. Ed. Rev. AB. 1864, 100. Scl. Cat. AB. 1861, 17. Elliot, BNA. pi. Coop. B. Cal. 

 i. 1870, 62, fig. Coues, Key, 1872, 85. B. B. Sf R. NAB. i. 1874, 133, pi. 8, f. 6. 



