312 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



extensive swampy places. This species is quite shy and owing- to the fact 

 that these birds frequent the thick grasses, rushes and rank weeds in, 

 often almost* impenetrable swamps, they frequently escape notice. I am 

 inclined to think the Short-billed Marsh Wren is more plentiful and gen- 

 erally distributed, in suitable localities, throughout the state than it is 

 usually supposed to be by naturalists and collectors. Concerning 

 this species Dr. John W. Detwiller, of Bethlehem, writes me as fol- 

 lows : " Mr. John Mack brought me a nest, which he found below Qua- 

 kertown, Bucks county, while hunting Woodcock. The nest was newly 

 constructed, but contained neither eggs or young. Later I found a nest 

 with fresh eggs, in the month of July, on Chain Dam island, Lehigh river." 

 I have observed this wren as a summer resident in Chester and Delaware 

 counties ; it breeds regularly, according to Dr. A. C. Treichler, in Lan- 

 caster ; Mr. Sennett has never observed it in Erie county, but Mr. H. C. 

 Kirkpatrick, of Meadville, informs me it is a summer resident in the low 

 swamps and marshes in Crawford county. It is not reported as occur- 

 ring in any of our mountainous districts. This species arrives here 

 about the last week in April, and remains until aboiit the 1st of October. 

 Food of seven of these wrens examined by the writer consisted of bee- 

 tles and spiders. 



Cistothorus palustris (WiLS.). 



Long-billed Marsh Wren. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Bill about as long as head ; maxilla blackish ; mandible blackish toward end, 

 but paler at base ; legs pale brown (in dried specimens dark brown) ; eyes dark 

 brown ; length 51 or a little over ; extent nearly 7 inches. Above dull brown, a lit- 

 tle brighter on rump ; crown and space on back nearly black ; pileum is divided by 

 a faint brownish median stripe ; interscapular region and sides of neck streaked 

 (short) with white ; tail blackish and barred transversely ; a white streak over and 

 extending back of eye ; lower parts whitish, sides, flanks and under tail-coverts 

 more or less light reddish-brown ; under tail-coverts, faintly barred. 



Habitat. Southern British America and the United States, south, in winter, to 

 Guatemala. 



The Long-billed Marsh Wren, an inhabitant of low marshy grounds 

 grown up with sedges and high grasses, is a common summer resident, 

 in suitable localities, throughout the state. It arrives in Pennsylvania 

 about the same time as the Short-billed Marsh Wren, and remains usu- 

 ally a little longer than its short-billed relative, before leaving for its 

 winter home. I have captured individuals in southern Pennsylvania as 

 late as the middle of October. The song of this species, Mr. Ridgway* 

 says, " resembles somewhat that of the House Wren, but is muqh less 

 agreeable, having a peculiar sputtering or scolding character." The 

 following paragraphs relating to this vivacious and secretive little den- 



* Ornithology of Illinois, p. 100. 



