266 



BULLETIN OF THE 



The " wood wren," Troglodytes americanus of Audubon, I am sure is 

 only the brighter colored ibrm of T. aedon ; in size or proportions there 

 is nothing, though the contrary has been claimed, to distinguish them. 

 Specimens equally large and equally small occur in each state of plu- 

 mage, in which the same general range of variation in proportions is pre- 

 sented. There is also an intergradation in color, and no observable 

 difference in habits. Both forms were common in Florida ; both also 

 occur in New England, whence Audubon obtained the first specimen of 

 his supposed new species. Audubon admits that it " can hardly be dis- 

 tinguished in description " from the house wren. The large size assumed 

 by him as characterizing it maybe readily accounted lor by the fact of his 

 obtaining his first specimens at Eastport in Maine, which is the extreme 

 northern limit of the habitat of this species. 



The. following measurements of fifteen Florida specimens indicates the 

 usual range of variation in respect to size and proportions found in speci- 

 mens from the same locality. The extremes of this series are as follows : 

 Length, 4.30 and 5.10, both specimens being females ; alar extent, G.10 

 and 6.95, both specimens being males ; wing, 1.90 and 2.44 ; tail, 1.30 and 

 2.40 ; tarsus, .50 and .G8 ; bill, .4 7 and .GO (.80?). The differences between 

 these extremes, it will be noticed, are very great, considering the small size 

 of the bird. The average dimensions are as follows : Length, 4.89 ; alar 

 extent, G.G1 ; wing, 2.05 ; tail, 1.80; tarsus, .52. 



Measurements of Florida Specimens of Troglodytes aedon. 



17* Thryothorus ludovicianus Bonaparte. Carolina Wren. 

 Common. Rarely seen outside of thickets. 



In few species is the difference in color between northern and southern 

 specimens greater than in this. Florida specimens have the reddish-brown 



