WINTER WREN. 439 
ther acute, the dorsal outline straight, the back narrow, the edges sharp, 
and inflected, the tip very narrow ; the gape-line very slightly arched. 
Nostrils linear-oblong, basal. 
Head ovate, of moderate size, neck short; body ovate. Feet of 
ordinary length ; tarsus compressed, with seven anterior scutella, of 
which the upper are indistinct; toes rather large compressed ; first 
large, and much longer than the two lateral which are equal, the third 
much longer; the third and fourth coherent as far as the second joint 
of the latter. Claws long, arched, extremely compressed, lateraily 
grooved, acute. 
Plumage soft and blended; no bristle-feathers at the base of the 
bill. Wing shortish, broad, much rounded ; first quill very small, be- 
ing little more than half the length of the second, which is 2} twelfths 
shorter than the third; the fourth longest, and exceeding the third by 
half a twelfth, and the fourth by somewhat less; secondaries long, 
rounded. Tail short, much rounded, of twelve slightly arched, weak 
rounded feathers. . 
Bill dusky brown, with the basal edges of the upper and two-thirds 
of the lower mandible paler. Iris brown. ‘Tarsi and toes pale green- 
ish-brown, as are the claws. The general colour of the upper parts is 
reddish-brown, darker on the head, brighter on the tail-coverts, quills, 
and tail. There is a white spot near the tips of the posterior dorsal 
feathers. The secondary coverts, and the first small coverts, have each 
a white spot at the'tip. The wing-coverts and quills banded with black- 
ish-brown and brownish-red, the bands of the latter colour becoming 
reddish-white on the outer five quills. Tail with twelve dusky-bands. 
The dorsal feathers and scapulars are more faintly barred in the same 
manner. A brownish-white band from the upper mandible over the 
eye; the cheeks brown, spotted with brownish-white, the margins of 
the feathers being of the former colour; the lower parts pale reddish- 
brown, the sides and abdomen barred with brownish-black and grey- 
ish-white; the fore neck and breast more faintly barred; the lower 
wing-coverts and axillars greyish-white, barred with dusky; the lower 
tail-coverts brownish-red, barred with dusky and having the tip white. 
Length to end of tail 32 inches, to end of wings 31, to end of claws 
42; extent of wings 6; wing from flexure 14 ; taik1,° ; bill along the 
ridge 35; tarsus 3% ; hind toe 35, its claw 74; middle toe ;%, its claw 
#4. Weight 6 dr. 
