WOOD WREN. 453 



York. It occurs chiefly in maritime districts, or the neighbourhood of 

 lakes, ponds or rivers. 



S. The House Wren is abundant during spring and summer in the 

 Middle Districts, and extends in small numbers eastward into Maine. 

 Very few are seen to the west of the Alleghanies, and none in Kentucky 

 or Louisiana. It is fond of the neighbourhood of human habitations. 



3. The Winter Wren abounds in Maine during summer ; some breed 

 in the mountainous portions of the Middle States ; none are seen in the 

 south, unless during winter, when a few occur as far as Charleston in 

 South Carolina ; at this period it is abundant in Kentucky. 



4. Bewick's Wren is rather rare in the Southern States, from Loui- 

 siana to South Carolina, being found in the interior. Its breeding place 

 is unknown. 



5. The Wood Wren is found here and there in Maine, where it breeds. 

 It winters in South Carolina. 



6. The Long-billed Marsh Wren is altogether maritime, and abounds 

 from the Carolinas to the Middle States. 



7. The Short-billed Marsh Wren occurs near fresh water only, and is 

 abundant from the Carolinas to Maine. The two last species are never 

 seen at a greater distance from the coast than a few miles. 



The Wood Wren, Troglodytes amehicana. 



Adult Male. Plate CLXXIX. Fig. 1. 



Bill of moderate length, nearly straight, slender, acute, subtrigonal 

 at the base, compressed towards the tip ; upper mandible with the rido-e 

 rather sharp, the sides convex towards the end, the edges acute and over- 

 lapping, the tip slightly declinate and acute ; lower mandible narrow, the 

 sides convex, the sharp edges inflected. Nostrils elliptical, straight, 

 basal, with a cartilaginous lid above, open and bare. Head ovate, neck 

 short, body rather full. Legs of ordinary length, rather large ; tarsus 

 rather long, compressed, covered anteriorly with seven scutella, sharp be- 

 hind ; lateral toes equal and smallest, hind toe strongest : claws rather 

 long, slender, acute, arched, much compressed. 



Plumage soft, blended, slightly glossed. No bristly feathers about 

 the base of the beak. Wings short, broad ; the first quiU half the length 



