58 : NEW-YORK FAUNA BIRDS. 



THE SHORT-BILLED WREN. 



Troglodytes brevirostris. 



tlate lxii. fig. 93. 



(CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) 



T. brevirostris. Nuttall, Trans. Am. Philos. Soc. Vol. 5. p. 98 (figure). 

 The Short-billed Marsh Wren. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 436 (figure). 



T. id. Audubon, fol. pi. 175 ; Orn. Biug. Vol. % p. 427, aBd Vol. 5, p. 469 ; B. of A. Vol. 2, p. 138, pi. 124 (male 

 and female). 



Characteristics. Bill shorter than the head, which is striated. Above brown, varied W;ith 

 rufous and whitish ; wings and tail barred ; beneath pale rufous ; throat 

 and centre of breast white. Length, four and a half inches. 



Description. Bill slightly curved and compressed,, half an inch long from the angle of 

 the mouth to the tip. Tail much rounded, and about an inch in length. Tarsus 0-7 long. 

 Claws very small when compared with- those of the T.palustris. Wings short, very convex; 

 the second, third and fourth primaries subequal. 



Color. Above blackish brown, varied with white and rufous chiefly along the shafts of the 

 feathers. Summit of the head with blackish interrupted stripes. Wings dusky, barred with 

 rufous and white or whitish on the outer webs. A light colored streak over the eye. Sides 

 of the breast, the belly and vent pale rust-color. Beneath, the wings obscurely barred. 

 Thighs rufous. 



Length, 4-0-4"5. 



This little Wren, which is allied in its habits to the palustris, was first detected by Nuttall. 

 It does not appear to be a numerous species in this State. According to Nuttall, it constructs 

 a highly artificial nest in sedge grass, and lays from 6-8 pure white eggs. It arrives here 

 at the latter end of April, and leaves in September •. winters, according to Audubon, 

 from Texas to South- Carolina. In summer it has been observed in Massachusetts. The 

 specimen which is figured in the plate, was taken near Tappan, Rockland county. 



(EXTR A-LIMITA L. ) 



T. obsoletus. (Bonap. Am. Orn. Vol. 1, pi. 1.) Brownish waved with pale ; beneath whitish mark- 

 ed with brown. Tail long, rounded. Bill an inch long, slender, notched. Length six inches. 

 Rocky mountains, Columbia river. 



T. bewicki. (Aud. B. of A. pi. 118.) Chesnut-brown ; beneath cinereous inclining to white : a pale 

 yellowish stripe ovei the eye and down the neck. Tail long, graduated. Lateral feathers spotted, 

 and external barred with black and white. Length, five inches. Southern Slates. Rare. 



T. parkmani. (Aud. B. of A. pi. 122.) Bill longer, stouter and more curved than in hyemalis. 

 Fourth quill longest. Reddish brown above, faintly barred ; beneath dull brownish white ; sides 

 barred ; lower wing-coverts and axillaries greyish, obscurely barred. Length, four inches. Co- 

 lumbia river. 



