318 BIRDS OF NORTH CAROLINA 



Genus Telmatodytes (Cab.) 



Two subspecies of the Long-billed Marsh Wrens occur in North Carolina, while 

 another may also reach our southern border, as it occurs in South Carolina. 



KEY TO SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES 



1. White of lower parts usually continuous from chin to under tail-coverts. Long-billed Marsh 

 Wren. 



1. White of lower parts usually interrupted by a band of dusky grayish or reddish spots, or 



clouding, across breast. See 2. 



2. Black of upperparts usually deeper and more extended, frequently covering the entire crown, 



nape and most of the back. Marian's Marsh Wren. 



2. Black of upperparts much duller and less extended, usually confined to the sides of the crown, 

 and a short narrow area in the middle of the back. Worlhington's Marsh Wren. 



323. Telmatodytes palustris palustris (Wils.). LONG-BILLED MARSH WREN. 



Description. Crown unstreaked, its sides black, its center olive-brown, a white line over eye; 

 middle of back black, broadly streaked with white; rest of back cinnamon-brown; middle tail- 

 feathers narrowly, outer tail-feathers broadly barred; below white, the sides and flanks pale 

 cinnamon-brown sometimes extending to breast; under tail-coverts rarely barred. Specimens in 

 worn breeding plumage are grayer. (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.) 



Range. Eastern North America, wintering in Gulf States. 



Range in North Carolina. Transient in the central and western portions; winter visitor along 

 the coast. 



FIG. 261. LONG-BILLED MARSH WHEN. 



At Raleigh this species has been observed from April 21 to May 7 in spring, 

 and from September 20 to October 19 in autumn, and also on January 14 and 30, 

 1890; March 17, 1888; and March 13 and 18, 1889; while in the mountains at 

 Weaverville our dates are in fall only, viz., from September 22 to October 31 

 (Cairns). On the coast Bishop has noticed that a few pass the winter on Pea and 

 Bodie islands. 



