Q52 MARION'S MARSH WREN. 



CISTOTHORUS IVIARSANAE. 

 Marion's Marsh Wren. 



Cistoth'irus marianae Scott, Auk, April, 1888 p, 188. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Ch. Form and size similar to those, of the Long-billed Marsh Wren, but nearly uniform black 

 above without rufous and the under parts are pale buff, banded on sides of neck, back, flankt-' and upper and 

 under tail coverts with dusky. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



In 1872, sixteen years before Mr. Scott published his description of this bird. I noticed the appearance 

 of this form at Spruce Creek, Eastern Florida, and recorded it on page 42 of the " Birds of Florida," but 

 did not name the species. Occurs as a constant resident throughout middle and Southern Florida, excepting 

 about Miami and on the keys. 



HABITS. 

 Spruce Creek, in Eastern Florida, ri.'^es in the interior near Like Ashby. U is a 

 remarkable stream, for this section, inasmuch as the banks are high and idirupt, risiut;- in 

 many places forty feet from the water; these highlands do not form both niargins^of the 

 river in anyone place, tiowever, but enclose an expanse of marsh, which varies from a 

 few hundred feet to a mile in width, through which the stream winds. This interval is thick- 

 ly overgrown with a species of rush ( Juncus maritiinus ), which grows to the height of 

 five feet. Tlie luxuriant growth formed a cover for hundreds of Marion's Marsh Wrens, 

 and is the only place where I ever found them in any numbers in Florida. My attention 

 was attracted to them by their notes which are merely weak sputtering attempts at song. 

 This was in April, 1872, and they were evideatly nesting, but as I was uualile to nsake 

 my way through the thick rushes, did not ascertain this for a certainty. I found them 

 common on Indian River in FelHniary, 1886, and they began to sing on the 28th of tliis 

 month and on April 16th I found a partly constructed nest in high grass on the salt 

 marshes just north of Merritt's Island. It resembled those of the Long-billed. 



CISTOTHORUS STELLARSS. 

 ,Short-billed Marsh Wren- 



Cistothorus stellaris Cabanis, Mas. Hei-n., IS.Vi, 77. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cu. Form, slender. Size, small. Bill, shorter than the head, quite stout and not very aeuiuinate. 

 Sternum, not strong, with the keel proportionately shorter and lower than in the preceding species. Tongue, 

 slender, thin and horny, with the end, hi adult specimens, bifid and divided into coarse cilia, which, in 

 younger birds, extend along the sides, sometimes for one-fourth of the terminal length. 



Color. Adult. Above, dark brown, becoming reddish on the rump, shaded on top of head with buff: 

 there is a huffish collar, then the back is shaded with white and buff. Tliere are also some white spots on 

 the nape. Wings, upper tail coverts and tail, barred with pale yellowish white, bro^^'n and rufous. Be- 

 neath, white, with the breast, sides, flanks, under tail coverts, and under wing coverts, buff. The chin is 

 also tinged with the same color and there is a yellowish superciliary stri]ie. Lores, and ear coverts, dusky. 

 There are faint indications of white on the shoulders. Young differ from the above in having the top of the 

 head streaked with white. There is also more white on the shoulders and the fer.thcrs of the ruiiiv> are 



