LAND BIRDS. G77 



says: "Very partial to the tamarack and cedar swamps where they 

 would be heard singing from the tops of the tallest trees. It was often 

 heard singing along the shores of the lakes and bays, preferring places 

 where there was a rank growth of ground hemlock" (Adams' Rep., Mich. 

 Geol. Surv., 1908, 380). 



The nest is placed on or near the ground, but usually in some recess 

 among the roots of trees, in a brush heap, under a log, or even in a burrow 

 in a mossy bank, so that the eggs are rarely if ever visil:)le. It is composed 

 largely of fine dead twigs and green moss, hned with fur, feathers, and 

 sometimes other soft materials. The eggs are white, thinly and finely 

 speckled with reddish brown, mostly about the larger end, but not in- 

 frequently these spots are almost wanting and the eggs at first glance 

 appear to be entirely white or creamy white. They average .69 by .50 

 inches. The usual number in a set is five or six, although seven and even 

 eight have been recorded. 



The food presumably is similar to that of the House Wren, Init owing 

 to the habitat it has not the economic importance of that species. 



Dr. Gibbs found the Winter Wren numerous, and doubtless breeding, 

 in the eastern part of Ottawa county June 10, 1878, and he saw one carry- 

 ing nesting material near Howard City, Montcalm county, May 13, 1885. 

 L. J. Cole states that about Grand Rapids he has seen the bird during the 

 In-eeding season, and that E. W. Durfee once found the nest there. At 

 Port Huron ]\Ir. Hazel wood has failed to find the nest and considers the 

 ])ird rare. The writer found it abundant and still in song in the west- 

 ern part of Mackinac county the first week in August 1901, and since 

 Ruthven Deane found the nest with eggs at Houlton, Maine, on August 

 8, it seems certain that the species often, if not regularly, rears two bioods 

 in a season. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Known at once by the very short tail (nmcli shorter than wing) and the tlisproi)or- 

 tionately large feet and legs. 



Adult: Upper i)arts, including wings and tail, dark brown, darkest on head, brightest 

 on rump; usually barred with black everywhere except on head, but the barring most 

 conspicuous on wings and tail, sometimes entirely lacking on the back; outer webs of 

 primaries cliecked with whitish; wing-coverts with terminal dots of buffy wliite; chin, 

 lliroat and breast brownish gray (sometimes only soiled white on tlie chin), mispotted; 

 belly and sides dark brown, thickly mottled and barred with black; sides of head and 

 neck mottled or streaked with light and dark brown; a but'fy white stri]io .ibovc^ and liehind 

 the eye. Sexes alike; seasonal changes slight. 



Length 'A.m to 4.10 inclies; wing 1.75 to 2; tail LI") to 1.10. 



307. Short-billed Marsh Wren. Cistothorus stellaris {Naum.). (724) 



Synonyms: Fresli-water IVIarsli Wren, Meadow Wren, (Irass A\'ren. — Troglodytes 

 steliaris, Naumann, 1823. — Thryothorus stellaris, Turnbull, ISdi). — Troglodytes 

 l)revir()stris, Nutt., 1X32, And., 1S34. — Cistothorus stellaris, Baird, 1S5S, and most sul)- 

 -:('((uent autiiors. 



Mottled Ijlack am] l)iown a])ove, with white streaks on l)ack and on 

 toj) of head; under parts mainly white, but sides and a l)ar aci'oss tlic chest 

 3'ell()\vish-brown. 



Distribution. — Eastern llnited States, north to southern New Hampshire, 

 soutliern Ontario, southern Michigan, and southern IManitoba, and west 

 to the IMains. Wiutei-s in the South Atlantic and Gulf States. 



The Shorl-billcd .Marsh Wwn is generally considered a rai-e bird through- 



