WRENS, THRASHERS, ETC. 
443 
less sharply defined, spots on under parts smaller, and colors more suffused. 
Length: 8.00-8.75, wing- 3.30-3.50, tail 3.25-3.50, exposed culmen .80-.95. 
Distribution. — Resident in Lower Sonoran zone, from southern Texas 
west to southern California, and from southwestern Utah to central Mexico. 
Nest. — In cactus, yucca, or thorny hush, bulky, flask-shaped, in hori¬ 
zontal position, entrance at mouth of flask; made of sticks and coarse 
straws, lined with feathers. Eggs: 4 to 7, whitish or huffy often hidden 
by reddish brown spotting. 
Brunneicapillus seems on first acquaintance, in a cactus and mes- 
quite thicket, the most unwren-like of wrens. Its big size, black¬ 
ish color, and grating, monotonous chut, chut, chut, chut, have little 
to suggest its small brown, sweet-voiced relatives. Its pose, how¬ 
ever, is like that of the Carolina wren, for it sings on top of a 
bare branch, with head up and tail hanging. It is a conspicuous 
bird in that strange land of cactus, mesquite, and yucca, and fits 
into its desert surroundings as well as its odd nest does in among 
the yucca bayonets or cactus thorns. Its nests are so common that 
in driving through the country one comes to pass them without 
comment, unless the eye is caught by a particularly perfect retort 
form for a photograph. 
In New Mexico, Mr. Anthony found the wrens repairing their 
nests in the fall, and thinks that they roost in them in winter, and 
use them for protection against storms. He believes that each pair 
of wrens keep several nests in order for this purpose. 
713a. H. b. bryanti Anthony. Bryant Cactus Wren. 
Similar to brunneicapillus , but thick ovate spotting extending over belly 
and sides; under parts washed with rusty, and tail with middle feathers 
more or less perfectly barred. 
Distribution. — From southern California south to Lower California. 
GENUS SALPINCTES. 
715. Salpinctes obsoletus {Say). Rock Wren. 1 
Bill about as long as head, slender, compressed, decurved at tip; wing 
longer than tail; tail rounded, feath¬ 
ers broad ; feet small and weak; tar¬ 
sus longer than middle toe, scaled 
behind. Adults: Upper parts dull 
grayish brown, finely flecked with black 
and white dots; rump light brown ; 
tail graduated, tipped with buffy brown and with subterminal band of 
black; middle tail feathers narrowly barred with blackish ; under parts 
dull whitish, brownish on flanks; chest usually finely speckled. Young: 
upper parts rusty gray; under parts whitish anteriorly, brownish on flanks 
and under tail coverts. Length: 5.12-6.35, wing 2.68-2.80, tail 2.12-2.40, 
bill from nostril .44^.54. 
1 Salpinctes obsoletus ptilverius Grinnell. San Nicolas Rock Wren. 
Like obsoletus, but entire plumage suffused with ochraceous or dust color. 
Distribution. —SanNicolas Island, California. (The Auk, xv. 238.) 
Fig. 569. 
