CHAR. Bill compressed, short, rather conical, not notched nor decurved. Culmen sharp-ridged. Nostrils linear, with an incumbent scale. Rictal bristles reaching beyond nostrils, which are scantily overhung by bristly feathers. Loral feathers bristly and directed forwards. Tarsi booted, or covered with a continuous plate anteriorly, with faint indications of scutellæ on the inner side. Basal joint of middle toe attached for about half its length on either side. Primaries ten; sixth quill longest. Plumage very lax. [Line drawing: _Chamæa fasciata._ 5924] We have found it impossible to assign the genus _Chamæa_ to any recognized family of American birds, and have accordingly been obliged to give it independent rank in this respect, although it may properly belong to some Old World group with which we are not acquainted. In its general appearance it approaches the _Paridæ_ in loose plumage, bristly lores, want of notch to bill, etc.; but differs in the very much bristled rictus, sharp-ridged culmen, linear nostrils, booted tarsi, less amount of adhesion of the toes, etc. It approaches the _Sylviidæ_ in the sharp-ridged culmen and bristly gape, but is otherwise very different. The excessively rounded wing is a peculiar feature, the sixth primary being the longest. [Illustration: _Chamæa fasciata._] The family may, perhaps, be best placed between the _Sylviidæ_ and _Paridæ_. This family has but one representative (_Chamæa fasciata_), and this confined to the coast region of California. The characters of the genus are those of the family. GENUS CHAMÆA, GAMBEL. _Chamæa_, GAMBEL, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phil. III, 1847, 154. (Type, _Parus fasciatus_.) But one species of this genus has as yet been described. Chamæa fasciata, GAMB. GROUND-TIT; WREN-TIT. _Parus fasciatus_, GAMBEL, Pr. A. N. Sc. Aug. 1845, 265 (California). _Chamæa fasciata_, GAMBEL, Pr. A. N. Sc. III, 1847, 154.—IB. J. A. N. Sc. 2d series, I, 1847, 34, pl. viii, fig. 3.—CABANIS, Wiegmann’s Archiv, 1848, I, 102.—CASSIN, Illust. I, 1853, 39, pl. vii.—BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 370.—IB. Review, 76.—COOPER, Birds Cal. 1, 39.