

SPECIES 3. CERTHM CAROLINIANS* 

 GREAT CAROLINA WREN. 



[Plate XII. Fig. 5.] 



Le Roitelet de la Louisiana, PL Enl. 730, jig. I. LATH. Syn. vn, 

 p. 507, var. B. Le Troglodytes de la Louisiana, BUFF. Ois. v, 

 p. 361. Motacilla Caroliniana (regulus magnus,) BARTRAM, 

 p. 291. PEALE'S Museum, JVb. 7248.f 



THIS is another of those equivocal species that so often occur 

 to puzzle the naturalist. The general appearance of this bird is 

 such, that the most illiterate would at first sight call it a Wren; 

 but the common Wren of Europe, and the Winter Wren of the 

 United States, are both warblers, judging them according to the 

 simple principle of Linnaeus. The present species, however, and 

 the following (the Marsh Wren, ) though possessing great family 

 likeness to those above mentioned, are decisively Creepers, if 

 the bill, the tongue, nostrils and claws are to be the criteria by 

 which we are to class them. 



The colour of the plumage of birds is but an uncertain and 

 inconstant guide; and though in some cases it serves to furnish 

 a trivial or specific appellation, yet can never lead us to the 

 generic one. I have, therefore, notwithstanding the general 

 appearance of these birds, and the practice of former ornitholo- 

 gists, removed them to the genus Certhia, from that of Mota- 

 cilla, where they have hitherto been placed. 



This bird is frequently seen, early in May, along the shores 

 of the Delaware, and other streams that fall into it on both sides, 



* This and the two following species were placed by Latham in the genus 

 Sylvia, whence they have been removed by Wilson, without apparently, suf- 

 ficient reason. 



-j- We add the following synonymes: Motacilla troglotydes, var y GMEL. vol. 

 t, p. 994, Sylvia ludoviciana, LATH, Index Orn. sp. 150, 



