CISTOTHORUS.— TROGLODYTES. 359 



Nest. It builds its nest on the outside of houses (Schnmhurgk). 



Eggs. The eggs are white and four is the usual number of each 

 clutch (^Schomburgk) . 



Range confined to British Guiana. Mount Roraima ( Whitely). 



Habits. Schoinburgk writes (Reis. Guian. iii. p. 673) that 

 this beautiful songster is chiefly found in the vicinity of human 

 dwellings, especially near the settlements of colonists. It builds 

 its nest even on the outside of the houses. Owing to the sweet- 

 ness of its song it is encouraged by hanging up empty bottles, 

 etc. in the halls and other suitable places, which are very quickly 

 utilised by the bird. The eggs are white, four is the usual 

 number of each clutch, and two or three broods are reared during 

 the year. 



Genus TROGLODYTES Vieill. 



Troglodytes Vieillot, Ois. d'Amer. Sept. ii. p. 52, pi. 107, 1807. Type 

 T. aedon (Vieill.). 



^ 



Fig. 139.— To show the long bill. 



The species on which this genus was founded are also small 

 birds with barred wings and tail but no longitudinal streaks on the 

 back, which is uniform or slightly barred. The bill is pointed and 

 compressed, its depth at the base being about one-third the length of 

 the exposed culmen. The wing is rounded, the third, fourth, fifth, 

 and sixth primaries are longest and equal, and the second about 

 equiil in length to the eighth. The tail is rounded at the tip and 

 about four-fifths the length of the wing. The tarsus exceeds the 

 length of the exposed culmen by about one-third, and the hind toe 

 , and claw are about equal in length to the middle toe and claw. 

 Coloration : male and female alike. 



Key to the Species. 



A. Upper surface greyish brown T. clarus, p. 360. 



B. Upper surface chocolate-brown T. rufulus, p. 362. 



