SHORT-KILLED .V.l/.'.v// 117.' K V. 43 



This was iii April ami they were evidently nesting, but as I experienced great difficulty in 

 making my way through the thick rushes was unable to ascertain this for u certainty. In New 

 England they build about the tirst of June. The nests are placed in the tops of the grass, 

 reeds, or rushes. But a singular fact regarding the domiciles of this species is, that each pair 

 will commonly build several edifices in a season, and but a short distance apart; depositing 

 their eggs in one however. There is apparently no difference between the one used and the 

 others. These structures must lie made for some purpose, but whether the birds are 

 experimenting that they may obtain a perfect nest, or whether they arc placed there for the 

 purpose of attracting the attention of their enemies that they may not discover their eggs 

 remains to be proved. The birds appear as solicitous when the spurious nests are approached 

 as when the one which contains the eggs is disturbed, by which we may infer that the latter 

 theory is correct. 



These birds are not shy, but when frightened will hide like all members of the family. 

 They are constant residents in Florida but migrate to and from the North, arriving in New 

 England about the tirst of .Ma} - and departing early in October. I have never met with this 

 species in the everglades or among the Keys. 



CISTOTHORUS STELLAKIS. 



Short-billed Marsh Wren. 

 Cistothorus stellaris CABAXIS, Mus. Herii., 1851, 77. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sr. Ch. Form, slender. Size, small. Bill, shorter than the head, quite stout and not very acuminate. Sternum, 

 HOI strong, with the keel proportionately shorter and lower than In the preceding species. Tongue, slender, thin 

 and horny, with the end. in adult specimens, bifid and divided into coarse cilia, which, In younger birds, extend 

 aloim tin- shies, sometimes for one-fourth of the terminal length. 



<''i.itu. .\ilnlt. Above, pale yellowish-brown, darkest on the head and palest on the rump. The feathers of 



the hark are tipped with white and edged with black. There are also some white spots on the nape. Wings, upper 



- and tail, barn-d with pale yellowish-white, brown and rufous. Beneath, white, with the breast, sides, 



Hanks, under tail eoverts, and under wing coverts, butt'. The chin is also tinged with the same color and there is 



wish superciliary si ripe. Lores and ear coverts, dusky. There are faint indications of white on the shoulders. 



;/ diner from tlie above in having the top of the head streaked with white. There is also more white on 



tin- shoulders and the feathers of the rump are striped with it. The buff of the lower parts is brighter. The 



nestlings d<> not ditt'er from the plumage last described. Ueck and bill, brown, the latter lighter ou the basal 



three-fourths of the lower mandible. Feet, pale brown. 







OBSERVATIONS. 



I can see no difference between specimens taken in Florida and those from the North. This species may be 

 . nislied from the preceding as d. -eribcd under that head. Inhabits the United States south of longitude 43. 

 Winters in the more southern sections, but I did not see it in the everglades of Florida or among the Keys. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of ten specimens. Length, 4-37; stretch, 5-50; wing, 1-79; tail, 1-40; bHl, -42; tarsus, -43. 

 -t specimen, 4-50; greatest extent of wings, 5-CO; longest wing, l-'.IO; tail, 1-(!0; bill, -45; tarsus, -75. Shortest 

 specimen, 4-00; smallest extent of wing^. .V-'l : shortest wing, 1'75; tail, 1-30; bill, -40; tarsus, -60. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



* built in the tops of grass, reeds or rushes. Composed of these materials bent and woven into a hollow 

 ball with a hole for an entrance at the side. They are usually lined with line grasses. Dimensions; external 

 diameter, 7 inches; internal, l-l'>. 



commonly six in number, oval in form and pure white in color. Dimensions, from -C0x'-50 to -73. 



