TEOGLODTTIDiE, WEENS. GEN. 18, 19, 20. 85 



thing else that is big or unpleasant to them ; they quarrel a good deal, and are 

 particularly spiteful towards martins and swallows, whose homes they often in\-ade 

 and occupy. Their song is bright and heartj"-, and they are fond of their own 

 music ; when disturbed at it, they make a great ado with nois}' scolding. Part of 

 them live in reedy swamps and marshes, where they hang astonishingly big globular 

 nests, with a little hole in one side, on tufts of rushes, and lay six or eight dark 

 colored eggs ; the others nest anywhere, in shrubbery, knotholes, hollow stumps 

 and other odd nooks. Nearly all are migratory ; one is stationary ; one comes to 

 us in fall from the north, the rest in spring from the south. Insectivorous, and 

 very prolific, laying several sets of eggs each season. Plainly colored, the browns 

 being the usual colors ; no red, blue, yellow or green in any of our species. 



18. Genus CAMPYLORHYNCHUS Spix. 



\ l^ J Brown-headed Creeper Wren. Brown, conspicuously white-streaked, 

 Jif^ crown broAvn, plain; below whitish becoming pale brownish behind, with 



many very distinct round black sjDots, largest and closest on throat and 

 breast ; tail feathers black, only the outer and central pair with more than 

 one white bar on the inner web. Largest of all, 8 ; wing and tail about 3J. 

 South-western United States, and southward. Cass., 111., 156, pi. 25; 



Bd., 355; Coop., 61 erunneicapillus. 



uH Allied Creeper Wren. Similar; smaller; fewer and smaller black spots 

 on breast; tail feathers all with white bars or spots on both webs. Cape 

 St. Lucas, Xantus, Proc. Acad. Phihida., 1859, p. 298; Elliot, pi. 3; 

 Bd., Rev. 100; Coop., 62. A variety of the last? .... affinis. 



19. Genus SALPINCTES Cabanis. 



)4 J MocJc Wren. Brownish-gray, often obsoletely waved with lighter and 

 darker shades, becoming cinnamon or fulvous-brown on rump, everywhere 

 speckled with black and white dots ; below whitish, throat and breast 

 obscurely streaked with dusky; belly and sides fulvous-brown-tinted, under 

 tail coverts blackish-barred ; wings dusk}^ obscurely waved with paler, 

 chiefly on outer webs ; middle tail feathers barred like wings, others with 

 broad subtei'minal black bar and fulvous tip ; outer feather often with 

 several such markings. 5J-6 ; wings 2|, tail 2^ ; all the markings are 

 obscure and blended ; the brown has often a slight pinkish shade. Central 

 and Eocky Mountain region of the United States into Mexico. {Myiotltera 

 ohsoleta, Bonap., Am. Orn., i, 6, pi. 1, f. 2.) Nutt., i, 435; Aud., ii, 

 113, pi. 116; Bd., 357; Coop., 65, obsoleta. 



20. Genus CATHERPES Baird. 

 w |j Mexican or Wliite-throated Wren. Brown, graj'cr towards and on head, 

 becoming rich ferruginous or brownish-red behind, both above and below; 

 chin and throat pure white ; back and crown finely speckled with black 

 and white dots; wings dusky, waved with brown ; tail rich brown, like the 

 rump and belly, with numerous narrow distinct black bars ; bell^' waved 

 or speckled with dusky and whitish; bill long (f or more), extremely 



