298 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



718 Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham). 

 Carolina Wren. 



PLATE 78. 



Adults. Length, 5.25-6. Wing, 2.35. Above, uniform russet or rufous 

 chestnut, darker on the head ; wings and tail barred with dusky and small 

 white terminal spots on the wing-coverts ; large concealed white spots on the 

 base of the upper tail-coverts ; under surface, white, washed with cinnamon, 

 especially on the sides and flanks ; under tail-coverts with narrow brown bars ; 

 a conspicuous white line over the eye narrowly bordered with black ; plumage 

 duller in summer. 



Young in first summer. Similar, but somewhat mottled with dusky beneath. 



Nest large, made of grass, moss, leaves, feathers, etc., placed in holes in 

 walls and buildings, or in hollow trees, etc. ; eggs, four to six, white, spotted 

 with rusty and pale purple at the larger end, .74 x .60 



Common resident in southern New Jersey and the lower Hudson 

 Valley ; rare elsewhere. 



The Carolina Wren is the largest of our Wrens, a bird of the woods 

 and thickets, always in song, winter as well as summer. The song is 

 a loud clear whistle resembling those of the Tufted Titmouse and 

 Cardinal, birds which have almost the same distribution. The most 

 common variations have been excellently given by Mr. Chapman as 

 "whee-udle, whee-udle, whee-udle" and "tea-kettle, tea-kettle, tea- 

 kettle." The bird has also a fluttering note like the "bleat" of a tree- 

 toad, which is uttered with numerous bobbings of the body as he hops 

 about, disturbed by some intruder. 



The Carolina Wren is common throughout southern New Jersey, 

 especially in the western part. It is rare at Princeton (Babson), rare 

 and irregular at Plainfield (Miller), but more common in the lower 

 Hudson Valley (Chapman) from Fort Lee to Piermont. 



719 Thryomanes bewicki (Audubon). 

 Bewick's Wren. 



Adults. Length, 5.25. Wing, 2.15. A miniature Carolina Wren in shape 

 and proportions, but duller in color, being exactly the same shade as the House 

 Wren. Distinguished from the latter by the white line over the eye and white 

 tips and bars to the three outer pairs of tail feathers. 



