100 BIRDS OF BKITISH GUIANA. 



inhabiting the same districts on the outskirts of the city, are the 

 little ' Spine-tails,' commonly known as ' Rootie ' {Synallaxis cin- 

 namomea), evidently so named from its cry. 



" These little spine-tails are the only town representatives of the 

 large family of* American Bush-creepers' or ' Spine-tails' (Den- 

 drocolaptidse), which altogether number more than 200 species. 

 They are usually, throughout the family, of some shade of brown ; 



d in their bills, feet, and spiny tails, the typical forms approach 

 the true Creepers of the Old World, with which they closely agree 

 in habits. They are, however, chiefly forest birds, and but few of 

 them, as in our common ' Rootie,' resort to the reeds and rushes 

 in open swampy lands, and to the low bush in waste or grassy 

 places." 



The following note has been copied from Mr. C. A. Lloyd 

 (Timehri (2) xi. p. 6): writing on the nesting of some Guiana 

 birds he remarks: — " The little Spine-tail {Synallaxis cinnamomea), 

 or •' Rootie ' as it is called here, also builds its cumbersome nest in 

 close proximity to those of wasps, and singularly enough, as if not 

 satisfied with the protection afforded by these pugnacious neigh- 

 bours, it invariably attaches a portion of the cast skin of a snake 

 on the outside, possibly as an additional warning to its enemies. 

 The eggs of the 'Rootie' are dull white and usually four in 

 number. Sometimes one or two strange bluish eggs are found 

 with them, but no one seems to be acquainted with the bird to 

 which they belong." 



Mr. Beebe (Our Search for a Wilderness, p. 379) writes: — 

 "The little 'Rooties,' or (Jinnamon Spine-tails — absurdly Wren- 

 like but in reality Woodhewers which have deserted tree-trunks 

 for reeds — showed us their homes, concealed in great untidy balls 

 of twigs. As they flit here and there through the bashes and 

 grasses, they let off a sound like a miniature rattle." 



414. Synallaxis adusta. 

 RoRAiMA Spine-tail. 



Synallaxis adusfa Sah^n & Godman, Ibis, 1SS4, p. 450 (Mount 

 Eoraima) ; Salvin, Ibis, 1S85, p. 419 CRorairua, 5000 to 6000 ft.) ; 

 Sclater, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xv. p. 55, pi. iii., 181)0 (Roraima); 

 Brabourne & Chubb, B. S. Amer. i. p. 232, no. 2344, 1912. 



Adult male. General colour of the upper surface dark chestnut 

 blown, rather darker on the head ; inner webs of the bastard-wing, 



