BIRDS OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. 95 



extremes; I have birds exhibiting every shade of color 

 between, but remarkably variable. 



Upon these inconstant characters does the specific value 

 of Americana rest! Very pertinent then are the grave 

 doubts expressed by ornithologists as to its validity as a 

 species. The following is an accurate description of the 

 specific characters, with the more important synonymes, 

 and a table of comparative measurements. 



Troglodytes aedon, Vieill. — House Wren. 



Troglodytes aedm. Viellot, Ois. Am. Sept. II. 1807, 32; PI. 



CVII.— In. Nouv. Diet. XXXIV. 1819, 606. 

 «« «' BONAP., Obs. Wilson, 1825, No. 136. 



" « Rich., F. Bor. Am. II. 1831, 316. 



" " AuD., Orn. Biog. I. 1831, 427: V. 1839; PI. 



LXXXIII. — Ib. Syn. 1839, 75. — Ib. Birds 

 Am. II. 1841,125; PI. VIII. 

 •* " Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 367. 



" " Samuels, Orn. and Oi31. of N. Eng. 1867, 196. 



« " CouEs, Proc. Essex Inst. V. 1867, 278. 



Sylvia domesiica. Wilson, Am. Orn. I. 1808, 129; PI. VIII. 



Troglodytes fulvus. Nuttall, Man. I. 1832, 422. 



" " Rich., List, 1837. 



Troglodytes Americanus. Aud., Orn. Biog. II. 1834, 452: V. 1839, 469, 

 PI. 179. —Ib. Birds Am. II. 1841, 123; PI. 

 119.— Ib. Syn. 1839,75. 

 " " Baikd, Birds N. Am. 1858, 368. 



" " CouES, Proc. Essex Inst. V. 1867, 278. 



Sp. Ch. — Bill extremely variable in size, dark brown, 

 paler at the base of the lower mandible. Upper parts dark 

 brown, becoming more rufous on the rump and upper tail- 

 coverts ; middle of back and upper tail-coverts faintly barred 

 transversely with irregular lines of darker. The brown of 

 the back is exceedingly changeable; when it becomes light- 

 colored, these bars are almost, if not quite, obsolete ; wings 

 distinctly and more regularly barred transversely with 

 black ; tail reddish brown, irregularly but distinctly baiTed 

 transversely with black, — sometimes this black has a lighter 

 edging ; under parts dirty white, becoming pale brown on 



