Cafion-Wren 487 
at intervals he frequently bobs and bows like the Dipper. 
Towards the end of summer, owing to the constant 
running over the sharp rocks, the plumage becomes a 
good deal worn. 
The nest is placed on the ground, generally among 
a heap of stones, or under a projecting bank ; Gale found 
one in the crevice of a rotten tree trunk, while Smith 
describes a nest, which he discovered in a hole in a bank, 
as having a little platform constructed in front of it, 
levelled off and paved with flat stones. 
Nests found by Gale in Boulder co. were constructed 
of grass and plant stems, with a little wool added ; the 
lining was of fine roots and hair; the eggs, six or 
sometimes seven in number, are white, finely spotted 
with chestnut brown, chiefly at the larger end; they 
average “72 x °57. 
Nixon (90) describes a nest from Rio Grande co., 
containing six eggs, taken on May 29th, while Gale gives 
from May 25th to June 10th as the average nesting dates. 
One set of six fresh eggs found on June 24th was probably 
a second laying. 
Genus CATHERPES. 
Resembling in most respects Salpinctes, but the bill, which is very 
slender and nearly straight, longer, the culmen exceeding the tarsus ; 
plumage with white specks above and deep rusty posteriorly below. 
Only one species in the United States. 
Cafion-Wren. Catherpes mexicanus conspersus. 
A.O.U. Checklist no 717a—Colorado Records—Allen 72, p. 148; 
Aiken 72, p. 196 ; Minot 80, pp. 181, 225 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 155 ; 
Drew 85, p. 15 ; Miller 94, pp. 74, 85 ; Lowe 94, p. 269 ; Cooke 97, p. 120, 
Henderson 03, p. 237; 09, p. 240; Warren 07, p. 111; Markman 07; 
p. 158 ; Gilman 07, p. 195 ; Burnett 08, p. 87 ; Test 08, p. 226 ; Rockwell 
08, p. 178 ; Dille 09, p. 88 ; Cary 09, p. 184 ; Betts 10, p. 218. 
Description.—Adult—Above umber-brown, becoming greyer on the 
head and more rufous posteriorly, speckled throughout with dusky 
and white ; tail chestnut with transverse narrow black bars ; throat and 
