CHAPTEE v. — WEEN-TITS 



Eam. CRAMMWM 



THIS small group was proposed in 18G4, by Professor Baird, 

 for the accommodation of a single genus and spe ;ies not 

 readily referable to any established familv; although, as its 

 proposer suggested, the bird may belong to some recognized 

 exotic group. Its characters, which are in effect the same as 

 those of the genus Ghamcea, are given under head of the latter. 



Genus CHAMiEA Gambel 



Ohaes. — Form and general aspect combining features of 

 Wrens and Titmice. Plumage extraordinarily lax, soft and full. 

 Coloration simple. Tarsal scutella obsolete, or faintly indi- 

 cated. Toes coherent at base for about half the length of the 

 proximal joint of the middle one. Soles widened and padded, 

 much as in Paridce. Primaries 10, the sixth longest, the third 

 equal to the longest secondaries, the first about f as long as 

 the longest; wing thus extremely rounded, and much shorter 

 than the tail (about f as long). Tail very long, constituting 

 more than half the entire length of the bird, extremely gradu- 

 ated, with soft, narrow feathers, widening somewhat toward 

 their tips, rounded at the end, the lateral pair not two thirds 

 as long as the middle. Bill much shorter than head, straight, 

 stout, compressed-conical, not notclied, with ridged culmen, 

 naked, scaled, linear nostrils, and strongly bristled gape. 



The genus may be found referable to the Troglodytidce in the 

 vicinity of Ginnicerthia. 



The Wren-tit 



Cbnmsca fasciata 



Parns faSClatUS, Oamh. Pr. Phila. Acad. ii. 1845, 265 (Californift;. 



Cbamsea fasciata, Gamb. Pr. Philn. Acad. iii. 1846, 154 (type).— (3am6. .Journ. Phila. Acad. 



2d««r. i. 1847, 34, pi. 8, f. 3.— Cass. III. i. 1853, 39, p].l.—Xa7it. Pr. Philn. Acad. xi. 



J8.'i9, 191.— BA RAB. i. 11)64, 76. — Coop. Am. Nat. Iii, 1869. 185.— Coop. B. Cal. i. 1870, 



39, flgn.- C'OMM, Key, 1872, n.—Caop. Am. Nat. vlii. 1874, 17.— C. B. ^ E. NAB. 



1874, 84, figf., pi. 6, f. 8.—Nele. Pr. Bott. Soc. xvii, 1875, 356 



