PASSERES — CERTHID.E — TROGLODYTES. 57 



THE WINTER WREN. 



Troglodytes hyemalis. 



plate xlih. fig. 96. 



(CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) 



Sylvia tmglodytes. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. I, p. 139, pi. 8, fig. 6. 

 Troglodytes hyemalis. Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. 

 T. europeus. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p, 93. 



Winter Wren. Aumjbon, fol. pi. 360; Orn. Biog. Vol. 4, p. 430. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 427. Aud. 

 B. of A. Vol. 2, p. 128, pi. 121 (male and female). Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 72. 



Characteristics. Reddish brown, faintly barred with dusky; beneath dull rufous, with 

 obsolete bars. Hind toe stout. Bill short. Length, 3^ inches. 



Description. Bill nearly straight, half an inch long. Tail short and rounded, scarcely 

 more than an inch long. Wings rather short ; the fourth quill longest. 



Color. Above dark rufous brown, with numerous short interrupted bars of dusky. Head 

 and neck plain, not barred nor spotted. Primaries crossed with alternate rows of black and 

 whitish or yellowish white. Superciliary line, sides of the neck, of the head and breast 

 soiled white, with obsolete longitudinal dusky stripes. Beneath reddish brown. Belly and 

 vent barred with black and white. Bill dark brown above ; yellowish beneath towards the 

 base. 



Length, 3*5 -4*0. 



This Wren, which is one of our smallest species, has for a long time been confounded with 

 that of Europe, and is frequently also taken for the House Wren by casual observers. The 

 following characteristics of T. europeus may serve to contradistinguish these closely allied 

 species : " Greyish beneath ; neck, breast, and anterior part of the body immaculate." This 

 species, as its name would imply, remains with us during the winter, but in fact is found 

 here during the whole year. My late collector, Mr. Ward, found them breeding in great 

 numbers near Lake Oneida in July. They lay from 10- 12 dull whitish eggs, with a few 

 reddish spots at the larger end. Its geographical range east and west is very extensive, 

 reaching acrosss the continent : its latitudinal range is more limited, being included between 

 the 38th and 50th parallels. 



[Fauna — Part 2 ] 8 



