54 BIRDS. 



A larg-e family of small birds, chiefly belonging to 

 Tropical America. Gene^^a about sixteen; species one 

 hundred or more. "Our species are sprightly, fearless 

 and impudent little creatures, apt to show bad temper 

 when they fancy themselves aggrieved by cats or people, 

 or any thing else that is big or unpleasant to them; they 

 quarrel a good deal, and are particularly spiteful towards 

 martins and swallows, whose homes they often invade 

 and occupy. Their song is bright and hearty, and they 

 are fond of tlie^r own music; when disturbed at it they 

 make a great ado with noisy scolding. Part of them 

 (Cistothorus) live in reedy swamps and marshes, where 

 they hang astonishingly ])ig globular nests, with a little 

 hole on one side, on tufts of rushes, and lay six or eight 

 dark colored eggs; the others nest any where." {Dr. 

 Cones.) They are all plainly colored, being chiefly 

 brown. All are insectivorous, and most of them 

 migratory. 



* Back nearly uniform in color a conspicuous white superciliary 



line; 



Thryothorus, 1. 



** Back barred crosswise, sometimes obscurely so; no conspicu- 

 ous superciliary line; bill shorter than head; hind claw 

 shorter than toe. 



f Tail about as long as wings. . . . Troglodytes, 2. 



If Tail much shorter than wings. . . Anorthura, ?>. 



>:-** Back streaked lengthwise, at least on shoulders; hind claw 

 as long as the toe ; tail barred. . • . Cistothorus, 4. 



/. THRYOTHORUS, VieiWot Mocking Wrexs. 



* Tail not longer than wings, its feathers reddish brown with fine 



black bars. ( Thri/othoriiH.) 



1. T. ludovicianus, (Gm.) Bon. Carolina Wren. 

 Clear reddish brov n, brightest on rump; tawny below; 



