70 TEOGLODTTID^. 



Hah. Mexico \ La Parada * and Llano Verde ^ (Boucard), Jalapa (de Oca % Orizaba 

 (Sumichrast ^, le Strange). 



For some years this bird was supposed by Mr. Sclater to be the Picolaptes mega- 

 lopterus of Lafresnaye, described in 1845 ; but Prof. Baird, who examined the question 

 very fully ^, came to the conclusion that the name G. jpallescem was more strictly 

 applicable to it ; and his verdict has since been allowed to stand. 



The species is restricted in its range to the highlands of Southern Mexico, the 

 alpine region of the States of Vera Cruz and Oaxaca being its home, where it 

 would appear to be by no means uncommon. Prof. Sumichrast ^ gives as its vertical 

 range 5000 to 6500 feet, and says that he does not doubt that de Oca's specimens 

 from Jalapa were obtained in the neighbouring mountains. It would thus seem to 

 occupy a more elevated tract of country in Mexico than C. zonatus, which is also found 

 in the same States. 



We have no trace of the species in Guatemala, or elsewhere in Central America ; 

 but in Ecuador a closely allied bird, C. balteatus, occurs, in the western parts of that 

 country. 



Of the true C. megalo;pterus, said by its describer, Lafresnaye, to be from Mexico, we 

 have had no tidings of late years ; nor has it been satisfactorily shown to what country 

 it actually belongs, if, indeed, it is really distinct from C. pallescens. 



SALPINCTES. 



Salpinctes, Cabanis, Arch. f. Naturg. xiii. p. 323 (1847) (type Troglodytes obsoletus, Say) ; Baird, 

 Eev. Am. B. i. p. 109. 



This genus and Catlierpes have remarkably weak feet and toes compared with other 

 genera of Troglodytidae, the lateral toes being very short. This is especially the case 

 in Salpinctes, in which the inner toe (without the claw) falls short of the distal end of 

 the second phalange of the middle toe, and the outer toe hardly passes it. All the 

 claws in these two genera are much compressed, and have a deep lateral depression on 

 each side. The tarsus in Salpinctes is peculiar in having the posterior surface enclosed 

 in several scutellse instead of a single plate, as in Catherpes and Troglodytidae generally. 

 The bill is long, and depressed in a rather abrupt curve towards the end, near which a 

 slight notch is visible on the cutting-edge. The nostril is elongated, a membrane 

 slightly overhanging it. The nasal opening is pointed at its distal and rounded at its 

 proximal ead. The texture of the plumage is soft. 



Until quite recently, Salpinctes contained but a single species, though Catherpes was 

 for some time associated with it. A second species or race has since been discovered 

 inhabiting the small island of Guadalupe, situated in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of 

 California *. 



* Eidgway, BuU. U.S. Geol. & Geogr. Surv. of Terr. ii. no. 2. p. 185. 



