BIRDS OF NOBTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 685 



obsolete, and this is a point of some value, its presence or absence apparently having 

 nothing to do with power of flight. 



The coracoid of Chamsea seems unusually long, but the length is apparent, and 

 not real, being due to the smaller size of the associated parts. 



The sacrum of Cliamssa, like that of the Paridffi, is broad and deeply pitted, but 

 here similarity between the pelvic girdles of the two ceases. 



Viewed from above the pelvis of Chamxa is anteriorly narrow and posteriorly con- 

 tracted, as in Wrens, possessing the characteristic angular aspect peculiar to the 

 pelvis of that group. 



Viewed laterally the dorsal outline of the pelvis is alike decurved in Cliarmea and 

 the Wrens, the dorsal outline of the pelvis in the Paridse — as in the Thrushes — being 

 much straighter. 



The renal fossse in ChamsecC are shaped as in the Wrens, being more sharply trian- 

 gular than in the Paridee. 



In proportionate length of hind limb Chamiea surpasses any of the Wrens and 

 greatly exceeds any Titmouse. 



The tibia and tarsus of Chamsea are as long as the corresponding bones in Campy- 

 lorhynchv^, and but for the shorter femur of Chamica the hind limbs of the two birds 

 would be of the same length, although Cainpylorhynchus is almost one-half the 

 longer of the two, and certainly four times as heavy. 



In the arrangement of the phalangeal articular facets Chamsea is wren-like, the 

 second and fourth being in the same plane, while in Paridx the second is above the 

 fourth. 



Chamsea is characterized by a considerable development of the pro-cnemial ridge, 

 this probably bearing some relation to its ground-haunting habits; still the amount 

 of development of the pro and ectocnemial ridges is variable, both among the 

 Wrens and Tits. 



It appears, then, that in its cranial characters Chamiea is much like Psaltriparus, 

 while the shoulder girdle is slightly and the pelvic girdle decidedly wren-like. 



Dr. Shufeldt's conclusion that Chamsea finds its nearest relative in Psaltriparus was 

 therefore more correct than my own, that Chamma belonged with the Wrens, and I 

 can only say that at the time I ventured this opinion Psaltriparus was not available. 



On the other hand, none of the characters shown in the skeleton of Chamsea seems 

 sufficient to warrant placing the genus either with the Wrens or Tits, but rather 

 bear out the intermediate position indicated in the name of Wren-Tit. 



The Wren-Tits consist of a single monotypic genus peculiar to the 

 Pacific coast district of the United States. The single species is a 

 small terrestrial bird, living in the dense scrub or " chapparal" of hill- 

 sides and lower mountain slopes, building its open-topped nest on or 

 near the ground and laying three to five eggs of a uniform greenish 

 blue color. The male is said to have a very sweet trilling song. 



The ChamseidsB have long had the distinction of being the only 

 family of Passerine birds peculiar to the continent of North America, 

 or Nearctic Region. 



Genus C'HA.'M.JE.K Gambel. 



Chamsea a. Gambel, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., iii, Feb., 1847, 154. (Type, C.fas- 

 cioio Gambel.) (See also Gambel, Am. Journ. Sci., iv, Sept., 1847,286; 

 Ann. and "Mag. N. H., xx, 1847, 441, 442; Journ. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., i, 

 Dec, 1847, 34.) 



Chamoea (emendation) Bonaparte, Oompt. Rend., xxxi, 1850, 479. 



a " Xapai, on the ground." 



