422 



INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 



Subgenus. — Troglodytes (or Proper Wrens.) 

 Ijv these birds the middle toe is rather long, and the nails of mod- 

 erate length. In the Common Wren the bill is also somewhat straight. 

 These are remarkable for their almost domestic habits, building 

 often from preference about houses, either empty or inhabited ; they 

 also sing agreeably ; species of which exist in both continents. 



HOUSE WREN. 



( Troglodytes fulvus, Bonap. T. aedon, Vieill. Audubok, Orn. 

 Biog. i. p. 427. pi. 83, (truly admirable.) Sylvia domestica, Wil- 

 son, i. p. 129. pi. 8, fig. 3. Sylvia furva, (fulva?) Lath. Phil. 

 Museum, No. 7283.) 



Sp. Charact. — Dark brown, banded with blackish; beneath dull 

 pale grey, with obsolete indices of bands ; the tail rather long and 

 rounded. 



This lively, cheerful, capricious, and well known little 

 minstrel is only a summer resident in the United States. 

 Its northern migrations extend to Labrador. But it re- 

 sides and rears its young principally in the Middle 

 States. My friend, Mr. Say, also observed this species 

 near Pembino, beyond the sources of the Mississippi, 



