ROCKY-MOUNTAIN WREN. 
435 
outer tail-feathers not more than half the length of the middle ones. 
Legs and bill dusky-brown, the lower mandible paler. 
ROCKY-MOUNTAIN WREN. 
( Troglodytes obsoleta, Say. My other a obsqleta , Bonap. Am. Orn. i. 
p. 6. pi. 1. fig. 2. Phil. Museum, No. 2420>) 
Sp. Charact. — Dusky -brownish, waved with paler lines; beneath 
whitish marked with brown ; tail long and rounded, bordered with 
ferruginous yellow ; bill one inch long. 
This large species was discovered near the Arkansa 
river, in the neighbourhood of the Rocky Mountains, by 
Major Long’s exploring party, and first described by Mr. 
T. Say. The individual was a male, obtained in the 
month of July. The only note at this time heard from it 
was harsh like the voice of the Tern, (probably a note of 
alarm from the parent in cautioning its young.) It ap- 
peared to inhabit a sterile district devoid of trees, hopped 
along the ground, or flitted through the branches of the 
low stunted junipers which bordered the river, in small 
families of five or six individuals. While thus engaged, it 
spread out its tail, but showed no inclination to climb, 
perching merely in the usual manner of the other Wrens. 
The Rocky Mountain Wren is 6 inches long. The bill an inch or 
more from the corner of the mouth to the point, is very slender, and 
of a dark color. The feet are also dusky ; the tarsus £th of an inch. 
Iris dark brown. Above dusky-brownish, slightly undulated with 
pale lines, and tinted on the top of the head and upper part of the 
back with dull ferruginous. Sides of the head dull whitish, a brown 
line passing through the eye. Beneath whitish, with pale brown 
lines, except the belly which is wholly white, and the flanks slightly 
tinged with ferruginous. The primaries spotless ; tail-coverts pale, 
with fuscous bands ; inferior tail-coverts white with dark brown 
bands. Tail nearly 2 inches, rounded, and obsoletely banded. 
