CHARACTERS OF CHAMiEA FASCIATA 109 



Cbamaca fasciata, Cab. Arch. f. Natm-g. 18)8, Bi.i,W2.—Bp. CA. i. 1850, 206.— BA B!q"A. 



1858. 370.— Heem. PRRR. x. 1859, 43. 

 Chamia I'asclata, SA Stanrtury'» Kcp. GSL. 1852, 332.- .-i;JeM, Am. Nat. vi. 167a, 350, 404. 

 Orouiid Wren, Wren-tit, Grouad-tit, Ku;^. 



Il.vn.— California from the Sierra Nevada to the coast, from the Sacra- 

 mento Valley to San Diego. 



Ch. sp. — cJ 2 OUvaceo-fusoa, capite obscuriore, alls caiiddque 

 obsolete transfasciatis ; infra pallide cinnamomina, lateribus 

 crissoque obscurioribus, guld etpectore obsolete fusco-striatis. 



Adult : Dark brown with an olive shade, the top of the head clearer and 

 somewhat streaky, the wing.s and tail purer brown, obscurely marked with 

 numerous cross-bars ; below dull cinnamon-brown, shaded with olive-brown 

 on the sides and cris.4Urn, the throat anil breast obscurely streaked with 

 du.sky ; bill and feet brown; iris white. Length about six inches; wing, 

 2i-2-i ; tail an inch longer, much graduated, the lateral feathers being au 

 inch or mure shorter than the middle ones; bill, |; tarsus, i-„- ; middle toe 

 and claw, f. First primary nearly an inch shorter than the longest one. 



With a general parine appearance, this species, as indicated by tbe above 

 measurements, is of remarkable shape, quite unlike that of any other North 

 American bird. It was usually classed with the Pandas, until a separate 

 family was formed for its reception. The tail is very long, much exceeding 

 the wings, and forms rather more than half the entire length of the bird. 

 The wings are exceedingly short and rounded, the exposed portion of the 

 first primary being less than au inch in length. The plumage is remarkably 

 long, soft and lax ; the ooloratioa inoouspiciiuus, blended and diffuse. The 

 tarsal scutella tend to become fused, though a few large plates may com- 

 monly be observed in front. 



THE Wren tit is one of several interesting discoveries made 

 in Oaliforuia by Dr. William G-<imbel,of Pliiladelpliia, whose 

 life lelt an example of liovv much may be- aucomplisiied in a 

 brief space of time by tbe wise use of natural gifts. He at 

 first called it a Parus, but, soon perceiving its strongly dis- 

 tinctive characters, conferred upon it the appropriate title of 

 Chaniwa {y^aij-ai, "on the ground"), in allusion to its terrestrial 

 habits. According to his accounts, which remain the most 

 accurate and pertinent of those which have thus far reached 

 me, I gather that its habits are quite Wren-like ; that it in- 

 habits shrubby and weedy places, is restless and active, expert 

 in eluding obversatiou, and clamorous in resenting intrusion 

 of its haunts, with harsh scolding notes ; that it shares, further- 

 more, the very Wren-like way of holding the tail erect at times, 

 and nervously twitching it. Ho observed its manner of search- 

 ing for its insect food by scrambling sideways about the weeds 

 and bushes; and speaks of other notes it possesses more musical 



