56 NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



THE MARSH WREN. 



Troglodytes palustris. 



plate xl1i. fig. 93. 



(STATE COLLECTION. Male.) 



Certhia palustris. Wilson, Am. Om. Vol. 2, p. 58, pi. 12, fig. 4. 



Troglodytes palustris. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 93. 



Marsh Wren. Audubon, fol.pl. 100; Orn. Biog. Vol. 1, p. 500, and Vol. 5, p. 467. Nutt. Man. Om. Vol. 1, 



p. 439. 

 T. palustris. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 319. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 2, p. 135, pi. 123 (male and female). 

 Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 72. 



Characteristics. Dark brown. Crown dusky brown : neck and back streaked with light 

 color. A white stripe over the eye. Beneath glossy white ; vent 

 brownish. Length five inches. 



Description. Bill curved, and so nearly entire that the notch can scarcely be observed 

 with a lens. Tail short, rounded and erect. Wings short, with the fourth quills longest. 

 Legs and feet large for the size of the bird. Tongue sharp, pointed, entire. Claws long, 

 slender and arched. 



Color. Above reddish brown. Wings darker ; the feathers edged with lighter. The 

 lores, a line from the eye, throat, breast and belly whitish. Sides of the breast obscurely 

 barred with brown ; flanks, thighs and vent tinged with brown. Tail dark towards the end, 

 with 6-8 faint dark bars. 



Length, 4-5-5-0. 



This little wren, as its name implies, is chiefly found in marshes, where it constructs a 

 curious pensile nest, laying from 6 - 8 small mahogany-colored eggs. I have been assured 

 by intelligent witnesses that it is a highly musical species; singing, early in the spring, during 

 the greater part of the night. It breeds in Pennsylvania, and probably in this State, but I 

 have not yet met with its nest. It winters from Texas to Carolina, and migrates as far north 

 as Massachusetts. 



