19165 BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA 157 
(all excepting San Nicolas). This rupestrine bird is within this state notable for 
its apparent apathy to conditions of both temperature and humidity: both zonal 
and faunal limits are totally ignored, save that there is migration for the winter 
out of regions of heavy snow. Rock Wrens are found nesting from the lowest 
and hence hottest deserts to very nearly the highest above-timber-line peaks of 
the Sierras, and from the most arid points in the interior to the seacoast. It is 
clear that associational predilections are of far more import in this species than 
the other environmental factors named (see Swarth, Condor, xvi, 1914, p. 211). 
486 (715a) Salpinctes obsoletus pulverius Grinnell 
San Nicouas Rock WrREN 
Synonyms—Salpinctes obsoletus, part; Salpinctes pulverius. 
Status—Common resident on San Nicolas Island (J. Grinnell, Rep. Bds. 
Santa Barbara Ids., 1897, p. 10; and other records). The status of the rock 
wrens occurring both on the mainland and on all of the California islands has 
been studied by Swarth (Condor, xvi, 1914, p. 211) who concludes that the race 
pulverius is but slightly differentiated and is confined to the island of San Nico- 
las. : 
487 (717a) Catherpes mexicanus conspersus Ridgway 
NrvapA CANYON WREN 
Status—Fairly common resident below Transition along the desert ranges 
east of the Sierras: Panamint, Funeral, Argus and Inyo mountains (A. 
K. Fisher, N. Amer. Fauna no. 7, 1893, p. 133) ; north to Mono Lake (W. K. 
Fisher, Condor, tv, 1902, p. 11), and south to Providence Mountains (F. Ste- 
phens, Condor, v, 1903, p. 105). Also Dry Creek, Warner Mountains, Modoe 
County, one specimen (Mus. Vert. Zool.). Occurs widely over the southeastern 
desert regions in winter, as along the Colorado River (J. Grinnell, Univ. Calif. 
Publ. Zool., xu, 1914, p. 209). 
488 (717b) Catherpes mexicanus punctulatus Ridgway 
Dorrep CANYON WREN 
Synonyms—T'roglodytes mexicanus; Catherpes mexicanus; Catherpes mea- 
icanus conspersus, part; Catherpes mexicanus polioptilus ; White-throated Wren. 
Status—Fairly common resident locally in the mountainous parts of south- 
ern California from the vicinity of San Diego northwestward to Mount Pinos, 
and along both slopes of the Sierra Nevada less commonly to Shasta County ; 
also occurs sparingly in the west-central district: Santa Cruz Mountains (Ray, 
Condor, x1, 1909, p. 21), eastern Alameda County (Jewell, Oologist, xxm, 1905, 
p. 122), Mount Saint Helena (W. K. Fisher, Condor, 1, 1900,.p. 138), ete.; cas- 
ually to Santa Cruz Island (Linton, Condor, x, 1898, p. 128). Breeds chiefly in 
the Upper Sonoran zone. The status of the canyon wrens of various localities in 
southern California from Fort Tejon southward has not been satisfactorily 
worked out. The name C. m. polioptilus has been used for some of them. (See 
Ridgway, Birds N. and Mid. Amer., 1, 1904, pp. 658, 660.) 
