THO( JLODYTID.E — THE WRENS, 



135 



genera by having the two continuous plates on eacli side the tarsus divided 

 into seven or more smaller plates, with a naked interval between them and 

 the anterior scutelhe. Other characters will be found detailed in the lie view 

 of American Birds, p. 1(J9. 



Salpinctes obsoletus, Caban. 



BOCK WHEN. 



Trmjlodutea obsuMiis, S.w, Longs K.\i»',l. II, i,s-i;!, 4 (south fork of Pluttu). — At'n. O™. 

 liioS. IV, pi. rcdx. Id. U. a. 11, pi. txvi. - NKWBiiuiiY, P. U. If. Hep. VI, iv, 

 18;.7, SO. — IIi:ki!M.\nn, P. I!, li, Hep. X, 1S5!), 41. Salinncks olm,MiLi, (Jab. Wicg- 

 iiiaiinsAivliiv, 1847, i, 3-J3. li.vii!!), liiids N. Am. 1858, :iri7 ; Kev. 11(1. — Sci.atkh, 

 P. Z. S. isns), 371 (Oa.xacaK -CiM.i'illi, Oiii. Cal. 1, 1870, til. I I'mijImhiUs lalis- 

 /(tscidtim, Liciir. I'lvis-Vci/i-ich. Is31, no. 82. 



Sp. ("iiau. riiinmo-c vciy sdl'i iiiid lax. IJill aliout as long as the head. Upper parts 

 browiiish-jfray, cacli t'catlirr with a ci'iilral 

 line ami (oxcc|)t on (in- head) tniiisvcrsc liars 

 of (lu.sky, and a small dull i)ni\vnisii-wliiri' 

 spot at the end (.sei'n also on the tips of tlu? 

 (secondaries). Runi|i, si.les of tiie liody, and 

 poste?-ior part of helly and under taii-i'overts 

 dull ciinianion, darker aliove. Itesl of under 

 parts dirly while; fealhcrs of throat and 

 breast with dnsky eenlral streaks. Lower 

 tail-eoverts handed liroadly with lilaek. In- 

 ner tail-feathers like the liaek, the otiiers 

 with a broad hlaek bar n<'ar the end; the 

 ti|)s cinnamon ; liie outer on each sidi' alter- 

 nately banded with this color and lilack. 

 A dull wliite line above anil lieliind llie eve. 

 2.40. Young not niaikccl or banded bencalii 



Siilpiilrh.s obsottttis. 



Iris brown. Length, o.TO; wing, 2.82; tail, 

 Eggs white, spotted with red. 



IIah. Central regions of the Tnited Slates, to .\[exic>o, east to mouth of Yellowstone 

 River. Cape Si. Lucas. Not recorded from I'aeili.' sloiie. W. Arizona, CoiKs. Oaxaca, 



Sci.ATKH. 



Haiuts. The l{(tck Wren, .so far as its distrilmtinu is known, is princi]»ally 

 restricted to tlie higii eentriil jtlains of the h'ocky Mountains, from Xoliriiska 

 to tlie coast ranges near tlie I'acilic, and from Oregon to Mexico and Lower 

 California. According to I»r. Cooper it is nn abundant species throughout 

 the dry, rocky, and liarrcn districts of California, especially in tlie .southern 

 portions, where it I'onics nearer the coast. They are numerous among the 

 plains on both sides of the h'ocky Mountains. Tiicir favorite jtliices are 

 among the rocks, where they arc always busily engaged in hunting for insects 

 in the crevices. Dr. Cooper found nests at San Diego in cavities under tiie 

 tiled roofs of inaiscs, but tliey ail contained young as early as May. At 

 Fort Mojave they began to sing in Fciirtiary, and their .soirg continued 

 throughont the spring. They range to a liigh elevation among tlie nioun- 



