294 Bird Studies. 



which the birds frequent, with a small hole in the side for an entrance. It 

 is firmly attached to the reeds which sustain it, and when new closely matches 

 its environment in color. It is lined with fine grasses and plant fibres. From 

 five to eight eggs are laid. They are usually a uniform rich brown in color; 

 sometimes a white ground just shows through a profuse dotting of dark brown. 

 Frequently the brown is relieved with numerous dots, specks, and marks of 

 a deeper brown. The eggs are about two thirds of an inch long and a scant 

 half-inch broad. 



The Long-billed Marsh Wren is found in Eastern North America, north 

 to Massachusetts and Southern Ontario. It winters from the North Gulf 

 States, and in some localities farther south, to Eastern Me.xico. It breeds 

 from north of the South Atlantic and Gulf States through its North 

 American range. 



The coast region of South Carolina and Georgia is the home of a geo- 

 graphical race of the Long-billed Marsh Wren, known as Worthington's 

 Marsh Wren. It is a rather smaller and paler bird above 

 Marsh Wren than the Long-billed Marsh Wren, the umber brown 

 cistothorus paiustris griseus Or black areas being restricted or wanting. It is grayer 

 ^''""^^- brown on the sides than its northern convener. Its een- 



eral economy and breeding are like those of the Long-billed Marsh Wren. 



Marian's Marsh Wren is a resident bird, similar in general character to 

 the Long-billed Marsh Wren, on the Gulf Coast of Florida and probably west- 

 Marian's Marsh ward to Louisiana. Compared with the Long-billed Marsh 

 Wren. Wren it is somewhat smaller, and ^/ic npper parts arc much 



Cistothorus marianae Scott, darker \Vi general color. The sides and flanks are about 

 the same in tone as the rump. The rest of the under parts are grayish and 

 the breast is generally, and the feathers below the tail ^?/?c^ji'^, barred with dusky. 



The breedinof habits are similar to those of the Lone-billed Marsh 

 Wren, spherical nests of grasses and reeds being suspended to the coarse 

 grass in the salt marshes which these birds frequent. So far as I am aware 

 the birds have not yet been found away from tide water. 



The Short-billed Marsh Wren is about four inches long, and the char- 



