CAMPTLOKHTNCHUS, 67 



similar. The colouring of the hind neck connects it with C.jocosus, which is really its 

 nearest ally. 



B. Camptloehtnchus. 

 Wares suhlineatce, operculo sensim oitectoe. 



c. Pileusfere unicolor; dorsum longitudinaliter striatum. 

 6. Campylorhynclius brmmeicapiUus. 



Picolaptes brunneicapillus, Lafr. Mag. Zool. 1835, cl. ii. pi. 47 ' ; Heermann, Joum. Ac. Phil. 



ii. p. 263 ^ ; Duges, La Naturaleza, i. p. 140 ^ 

 Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus, Bairi, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 99* ; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 483 ' ; Baird, 



Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 132 '; Coues, B. Col. Vail. i. p. 156 \ 



Supra brunneus, pileo toto tmicolori ; dorso toto maculis elongatis albis nigro Tifrinque limbatis notato ; aHa 

 extus ruf escente albo frequenter transfasciatis ; cauda nigra, reotricibuB mediis pallide brunneo indistincte 

 transfasciatis, extimis maculis magnis albis in utroque pogonio notatis ; subtus albus, abdomine imo et 

 tibiis rufescente tinctis, pectore toto, gutture imo et bypocbondriis maculis rotundis nigris permaculatis ; 

 crisso albescente maculis magnis nigris notato ; rostro obscure plumbeo, mandibulae basi albicante ; 

 pedibus pallide corylinis. Long, tota 7"0, alse 3*2, caudae 3-0, rostri a rictu 1-1, tarsi 1-0. (Descr. 

 feminas ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.) 



Eab. NoETH America, Kio Grande ^ and Colorado valleys, Southern California, Utah, 

 and Nevada ^. — Mexico, Guaymas {Heermann ^), Guanajuato {JDuges ^), valley of 

 Mexico {le Strange). 



Though apparently common all along the northern frontier of Mexico, from the 

 Atlantic to the Pacific, the only evidences we have of the occurrence of C. brunnei- 

 capillus further south are the statement of Duges of its being found at Guanajuato 

 and the specimens brought home by Mr. le Strange from the vicinity of the city of 

 Mexico, one of which, through his kindness, we have in our collection. On the 

 northern frontier it is described by naturalists who have worked in that region ^^ as 

 frequenting very arid country where cacti abound, its partiality to that plant having 

 gained for it the name of the " Cactus- Wren." It even builds its loose purse-shaped 

 nest in the cactus-plants, making it outwardly of grass and straw, and lining it with 

 cotton or feathers *. Its notes are described as harsh and scolding, but its song as clear 

 and ringing ^. 



Lafresnaye's description and figure ^ are, as Prof. Baird says, not satisfactory ; and as 

 the locality of the original specimen is supposed to have been either California or Peru, 

 there is a possibility that a difierent species from the one now under consideration 

 should bear the name C. brunneicapillus. This name, however, has always been 

 associated with the present species ; and it is universally admitted that it would be unwise 

 to disturb matters except on better grounds for so doing than at present exist. 



9* 



