142 



NORTH AMERICAX BIRDS. 



Subgenus THRYOTHORUS, Vfeill. 



Thryothorus ludovicianus, var. ludovicianus, Bonap. 



GREAT CAROLINA WREN. 



Sylvia ludoviciann, Lath. Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 548. Troglodytes ludovicianus, Light. 

 Verz. 1823, 35 ; also of Bonaparte, Audubon, and Prince Max. Thryothorus lu- 

 dovicianus, Bon. List. 1838, etc. — Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 361; Rev. 123. 

 Troglodytes arundinaceus, Vieill. Ois. Am. Sept. II, 1807, 55, jil. cviii. (Certainly 

 this species; the habits those of C. palustris.) Certhia caroliniana, Wilson, Am. 

 Orn. II, 1810, 61, pi. xii, fig. 5. Thryothorus littoralis, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. XXXIV. 

 1819, 56. Thryothorus louisiaiice, Lesson, Rev. Zool. 1840, 262. 



Additional figures : AuD. Orn. Biog. I, 1831, pi. Ixxvii. — Ib. Birds Am. II, 1841, pi. 

 cxvii. 



Sp. Char. Exposed portion of the bill shorter than the head. Above reddish-brown, 

 most vivid on the rump. A whitish streak over the eye, bordered above with dark brown. 

 Throat whitish ; rest of under parts pale yellow-rusty, darkest towards the under tail- 

 coverts, which are conspicuously barred with black. Exposed surface of the wings and 

 tail (including the upper coverts) barred throughout with brown, the outer edges of tail- 

 feathers and quills showing series of alternating whitish and dusky spots. Legs flesh- 

 colored. Length, 6 inches ; wing, 2.60 ; tail, 2.45. 



Hab. Eastern Province of United States, from New York southwaitl to the Gulf. 



Habits. The Great Carolina or Mocking Wren is found in all the South- 

 eastern and Southern States from Florida to Maryland, and from the Atlantic 

 to Kansas and the Valley of the Rio Grande. It is not common about Wash- 

 ington, but is much more abundant in the Southern States. Occasionally it 



has been found as far north as Philadelphia, 

 and in one or two instances near New York, 

 where Mr. Lawrence has twice seen it, and 

 where on one occasion it appeared to be breed- 

 ing. Dr. Woodhouse found it very abundant 

 throughout Texas and the Indian Territory. 

 It is also abundant, and resident, in Southern 

 Illinois, as far north as latitude 38° 20' 20". 

 The habits and movements of this species, 

 as described by those who have had the 

 best opportunities for observing it, corre- 

 spond with those of the whole family of 

 Wrens. Its flight is usually only in short 

 distances, and is accompanied with short flap- 

 pings of the wings, and violent jerkings of 

 the body and the tail. The latter is usually kept erect. It moves with 

 quick jerks, and with sharp, rapid notes uttered as if in anger. It is in sight 

 one moment and out the next, passes in at one place and out at another 



Thryothorus beioickii. 



