72 GREAT CAROLINA WREN. 



ous, and are found rather farther north than in winter. In this 

 last season their chirr upping is frequently heard in gardens soon 

 after day-break, and along the borders of the great rivers of the 

 southern states, not far from the sea coast. 



The Great Wren of Carolina is five inches and a quarter long, 

 and seven broad; the whole upper parts are reddish brown, the 

 wings and tail being barred with black; a streak of yellowish 

 white runs from the nostril over the eye, down the side of the 

 neck, nearly to the back; below that a streak of reddish brown 

 extends from the posterior part of the eye to the shoulder; the 

 chin is yellowish white ; the breast, sides and belly a light rust 

 colour, or reddish buff; vent feathers white, neatly barred with 

 black; in the female plain; wing coverts minutely tipt with white; 

 legs and feet flesh coloured, and very strong; bill three-quarters 

 of an inch long, strong, a little bent, grooved and pointed, the 

 upper mandible bluish black, lower light blue; nostrils* oval, 

 partly covered with a prominent convex membrane; tongue 

 pointed and slender; eyes hazel; tail cuneiform, the two exterior 

 feathers on each side three quarters of an inch shorter, whitish 

 on their exterior edges, and touched with deeper black; the same 

 may be said of the three outer primaries. The female wants 

 the white on the wing coverts; but differs little in colour from 

 the male. 



In this species I have observed a circumstance common to 

 the House and Winter Wren, but which is not found in the 

 Marsh Wren; the feathers of the lower part of the back, when 

 parted by the hand, or breath, appear spotted with white, being 

 at bottom deep ash, reddish brown at the surface, and each 

 feather with a spot of white between these two colours. This, 

 however, cannot be perceived without parting the feathers. 



