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Show 186 Collector's notes. Eyes brown. Stomach contained caterpillars and other inaects. These birds are generally distributed over the island, but are found especially in the sheltered caiions of the middle portiou, where they are numerous. They also frequent the slaughter- yards, where goats are killed, to glean insects from the drying bones. Their notes are often heard early in the morning, when the birds mount some prominent rock or stump. Their general habits are not peculiar. April 5,1875, a female was taken, with the nest and eggs. The nest was built on the ground, beneath a rock, which sheltered it from the prevailing winds; it was lined with goat's hair, and contained two fresh eggs; a third, nearly ready to be laid, was found on opening the bird. Another nest, containing three eggs, was fouud in a crevice of a large rock, some 5 feet high. The fissure was about 18 inches deep; aud being more capacious than was necessary for accommodation of the nest, was divided by a partition, which the birds had built across it, leaving an iuterior space for the nest, and an aperture just large enough for the birds to pass with ease. This partition, which effectually blocked up the passage to the nest, was composed of pebbles. A third nest was discovered so far under a large solid rock, aud with so small an entrance, that it could not be secured. The passage to this nest was also blocked with small Stones. 3. THRYOMAUPS BREVICAUDA, nobis. SP. CH.- Adult:- Above grayish hair- brown, brownest on the rump, grayest on the tail; remiges just perceptibly, and tail- feathers very distinctly, transversely barred with dusky; three lateral tail- feathers light dull gray terminally, with one or two broad dusky bars across the anterior portion of the gray. A very conspicuous white superciliary stripe from the nostril to the occiput; below this a grayish- brown stripe, covering the lore and widening on the upper posterior portion of the auriculars. Lower parts white anteriorly, passing gradually into dull ash- gray ou the sides and abdomen ; crisMim broadly barred with black. Wing, 1.85- 1.90; tail, 1.80; bill, 0.45- 0.50; tarsus, 0.70- 0.75; middle toe, 0.50. Remarks.- This Wren appeals to bear about the same relation to T. bewickileucogaster that J unco insular is does to J. annectens; and it is a curious fact that the analogue of each should be the form from the iuterior of the continent instead of that from the neighboring coast. This iuaular form is much grayer than the T. betcicki spilurns of California aud Western Mexico, and presents other decided differences from all the continental forms. The following measurements of specimens of the two iorms show bow greatly they differ in dimensions and proportions; the difference from T. bewicki leucogaster is still more conspicuous. Nat Museum No. 70041 70042 Original No. 15 15 Age and sex. T. BREVICAUDA. WiDg. 1.90 1.85 Tail. 1.80 1.8Q BilL* 0.50 0.45 Torsos. 0.70 0.75 Middle toe. 0 50 O 50 T. BEWICKI SPILURta. 1276 • 2.00 2.30 2.00 9.50 0.40 0 40 a so 0.60 0.45 0.48 * Fiom nostril. |
