248 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



a bird of this species. Near San Diego, in April, 1862, he discovered one 

 of its nests built in a low bush, only three feet from the ground. It "was 

 quite open above, formed of twigs, grass, etc., and contained five eggs just 

 ready to hatch, described as white with brown specks near the larger end. 



Messrs. Nuttall and Townsend observed these birds in the marshy meadows 

 of the Wahlamet, accompanied by their young, as early as May. They seemed 

 to have all the habits of Marsh Wrens. Drs. Gambel and Heerniann, who 

 observed them in California, describe them as keeping in low bushes and 

 piles of brush, as well as about old dead trees and logs, over and around 

 which tliey were flitting with the greatest activity, uttering, when approached, 

 the usual grating scold of the Wrens. 



In Washington Territory Dr. Cooper states that this and the Winter Wren 

 are among the few birds that enliven the long rainy season with their songs, 

 which were as constantly heard in the dullest weather as in the sunny spring. 

 The young broods make their first appearance there in June. Dr. Suckley 

 found this species very abundant at Puget Sound, where it is a constant 

 resident throughout the year. On sunny days in January and in February 

 it was found among low thickets in company with the smaller species. At 

 this season they were very tame, allowing a person to approach them without 

 apparent fear. He speaks of the voice of the male as being harsh and loud 

 during the breeding-season, and not unlike tliat of the common House Wren. 



Genus TROGLODYTES, Vieill. 



Troglodytes, ViElLLOT, Ois. Am. Sept. II, 1807, 52. (Type, Troglodytes ccdon.) 



The characters of this genus are sufficiently indicated in the synopsis on 

 page 131. They come very close to those of Thryofhorus', the nostrils, es- 

 pecially, being linear and overhung by a scale. In this respect both differ 

 from Thryophilus of Middle America. The bill is shorter or not longer than 

 the head ; straight, slender, and without notch. The tail is graduated, and 

 shorter than the much rounded wings, the feathers narrow. The light super- 

 ciliary line of Thryothorus is almost entirely wanting. 



Species and Varieties. 



a. Troglodytes. 

 Tail and wings about equal. 



T. aedon. Beneath grayish-white. Crissum and flanks distinctly barred. 

 Wing-coverts spotted with whitish. Dark bars of tail about half the width 

 of their interspaces. 



First primary nearly half the longest. Color al)0ve dark-brown, rufous 

 towards tail. Hah. Eastern Province United vStates . . • \M\cBdon. 

 Wing similar. Above paler brown. Hah. Eastern Mexico, from Rio 



Grande southward \ai\ aztecus. 



First primary half the second. Above paler brown. Hah. Middle 

 and Western Province United States .... yav. p arkmanni . 



