GENUS SALP.NCTES S. OBSOLETUS 159 



known range into Utah and Nevada: the bird was taken in 

 1871 by Mr. Ferdinand Bischoff in the last named Territory, 

 and by Dr. H. (3. Yarrow and Mr. Heushaw at Saint George, 

 Utah, during the following year. All onr accounts agree sub- 

 stantially respecting the thoroughly Wren-like nature of the 

 bird. Its motions are sprightly and varied ; its temperament 

 is curiously compounded of self-assertion, petulance, inquisitive- 

 ness, and timidity; now it skulks in the shelter of the impene- 

 trable cactus patches and other dense undergrowth, now 

 mounts the tops of the bushes to scold in a loud, harsh tone, 

 or to utter the notes of its clear and ringing song. 



Genus SALPINCTES Cabanis 



CHARS. Bill about as long as the head, slender, compressed, 

 straight at base, then lightly decurved, acute at tip, faintly 

 notched. Nostrils conspicuous, scaled, in a large fossa. Wing 

 longer than the tail, the exposed portion of the first primary about 

 half as long as the second, which is decidedly shorter than the 

 third. Tail rounded, of twelve broad plane feathers, with rounded 

 or subtruncate ends. Feet small and weak ; tarsus longer 

 than the middle toe, scutellate posteriorly. Hind toe and claw 

 shorter than the middle one. Lateral toes of unequal lengths, 

 the outer being the longest ; both very short, the tips of their 

 claws falling short of the base of the middle claw. 



The special structure of the tarsal envelope, in connection 

 with the small size of the feet and peculiar relative proportions 

 of the tarsus and the several toes, readily distinguishes this 

 genus among its allies. It is represented, as far as now known, 

 by a single species ; though a different variety has lately been 

 ascertained to occur on the island of Guadaloup, off the coast 

 of Lower California. 



Rock Wren 



Salpinctes obsoletns 



Troglodytes ohsoletus, Say, Long's Exp. R. Mta. ii. 1823, 4. -AuJ. OB. iv. 183?, 443, pi. 360, 

 f. 4. And. Syn. 1839, 73. And. BA. ii. 1841, 113, pi. 116. Woodh. Sitgr. Rep. Zulu, 

 1853, QQ.Hcerm. Journ. Phila. Acad. ii. 1853, 263. Henry, Pr. Phila. Acad. 1855, 309 

 (New Mexico). Ncwb. PRRR. vi. 1857, 80.Heerm. PRRR. x. 1859, 41. 



MyiOthera obSOleta, Bp. AO. i. 1825, 6, pi. 1. f. 2. Bp. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ii. 182F, 73. Towns. 

 Journ. Phila. Acad. 1839, 154. 



Troglodytes obsoleta, Nutt. Man. i. 1832, 435. 



Troglodites ohsoletus, Ornith. Comm. Journ. Phila. Acad. vii. 1337, 193. 



ThryothOFUS ObSOlCtUS, Bp. CGL. 1838, il.Bp. " Rev. Zool. ii. 1839, 98". 



