SALPINCTES. 71 



Tlie metropolis of the genus is the Rocky Mountains, whence it spreads through the 

 Mexican and Guatemalan highlands. 



1. Salpiuctes obsoletns. 



Troglodytes obsoleta, Say^ Long's Exp. ii. p. 4 '. 



Salpinctes obsoletus, Cab. Arch. f. Naturg. xiii. p. 323 %• Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, p. 371 '; Scl. & Salv. 



Ibis, 1860, p. 30*; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 110'; Duges, La Natur. i. p. 139°; Lawr. 



Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 13 '; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw, N. Am. B. i. p. 135 %• Cones, 



B. Col. VaU. i. p. 159'. 

 Troglodytes latifasciatus, Licbt. Preis-Verz. max. Vog. p. 2" (J. f. Om. 1863, p. 57). 



Supra fusco-grisexis obsolete fusco transfasciatos, plumis singnlis maculis albis (apicalibtis) et nigris (sub- 

 apioaHbus) notatis, uropygio rnfescente ; alls et cauda media fuscis nigro frequenter transfasciatis, rectri- 

 cibus lateraJibus fulvo et nigro late transfasciatis ; superciliis indistincte albidis ; subtus albescens, 

 bypocbondriis paulo rufesoentibus, gula sparsim nigro striata, abdomine toto maculis paucis nigris 

 notato, crisso nigro variegato ; rostro et pedibus obscure comeis. Long, tota 5'5, alse 2-6, caudas 2'1, 

 tarsi 0-8, rostri a rictu 0-85. (Descr. exempl. ex Cacbil, Cruatemala. Mus. nostr.) 



Hab. Central region of North Ameeica and Lower California^. — Mexico, Coahuila 

 (Couch^), Guanajuato [Dugh^), Apam {le Strange), Oaxaca {Boucard^), Caco- 

 prieto, Tehuantepec(AS'^tm^■cAras^''),• Guatemala*, Quezaltenango, Salama, Eabinal, 

 Quiche, and Jutiapa {0.S.& F.B. G.) ; SAif Salvadoe, Volcan de Conchagua (O.S.). 



The Eock-Wren (by which name this bird is commonly known in the United States) 

 has a wide range throughout the Eocky Mountains, where it was first discovered by Say, 

 who accompanied Long's expedition \ It is found from British Columbia and Vancouver's 

 Island to Cape San Lucas, and southwards through Mexico to Guatemala and even as 

 far as the Gulf of Fonseca. It is, however, generally considered an inland rather than 

 a coast species, and in the mountains is found at considerable elevations. Its nesting- 

 habits are well known ; and observations respecting them have been collected by Dr. 

 Coues in his ' Birds of the Colorado Valley ' i. Though noticed by many travellers in 

 Mexico, we have no further account of it in that country beyond records of the places 

 where it is found. In Guatemala it often came under our observation, as it occurs in 

 some numbers in the hills surrounding the plain of Salama wherever open stony places 

 are found. Thus, when descending the Salama side of the Cuesta of Chuacus we 

 usually saw these birds about some old walls near the foot of the hill ; and, again, near 

 the summit of the Cuesta of Cachil on the Coban road birds were seldom absent. 

 These places are at the comparatively low elevation of from 3000 to 4000 feet above 

 the sea. Salpinctes obsoletus, however, was more numerous about Quezaltenango, at an 

 elevation of 8000 feet, the stony barren hill-sides of that district being apparently well 

 suited to its habits. It is probably a resident species in Guatemala as elsewhere ; our 

 specimens were obtained at Cachil in November, and at Quezaltenango in August ; and 

 it was observed at the latter place in February. In March, too, Salvin observed it at 



