CIIAM/EAD.E — THE GROUND-TITS. 



83 



Family CHA^MABM. — The (iROUND-Trrs. 



Char. Bill compressed, short, rather conical, not notched nor decurved. Ciilmen 

 shnrp-rid^'ctl. Nostrils linear, with an inciunbcnt scale. Rictal bristles reaching beyond 

 nosiril.s, which are scantily overlnnig by bristly leathers. Loral feathers brisHy and 

 directed forwards. Tarsi booted, or covered with a continuous plate anteriorly, with 

 faint indications of scutelliv on the inner side. Basal joint of middle toe attached for 

 about half its length on either side. Primaries ten; si.vth quill longest. Plumage very lax. 



We have found it impossible to assign the genus Chamcca to any recog- 

 nized fouiily of American birds, and have accordingly been obliged to give it 

 indejjendent rank in this re- 

 spect, althougli it may prop- 

 erly belong to some Old 

 World group witli which we 

 are not acquainted. In its 

 general appearance it ap- 

 proaches the I'arukc in loose 

 plumage, bristly lores, want 

 of notch to bill, etc. ; but 

 differs in the very mucli 

 bristled rictus, sharp-ridged 

 culmen, linear nostrils, booted tarsi, less amount of adhesion of the toes, etc. 



It approaclies the Sijlviidw in the 

 sharp-ridged culmen and bristly gape, 

 but is otherwise very different. The 

 excessively rounded wing is a pecu- 

 liar feature, the sixth primary being 

 the longest. 



The family may, perhajvs, be best 

 placed between the SyiviidoG and 

 Pnridcp. 



This family has but one representa- 

 tive (Chaiiiwafascmta), and tiiis con- 

 fined to the coast region of California. 

 Tlie characters of the genus are those 

 of the family. 



Chamaa/usciata. 



Cliamrra/asciala. 



Gknus CHAM2IA, Cvmbel. 



C/;frn)(rrt, Gambei,, Pr. A. N. So Pliil III iSiT ir.i /t n ^ •. > 



, i». ii. ciL. 1 mi. Ill, isii, 104. (Type, Parus fasciulus.) 



But one .species of tliis geni.s has as yet Iwen described. 



