NORTHERN WREN. -13 



INSECTIVORJE. 



Family TROGLOD YTIDvE. 



Genus Troglodytes. ( Vieillot.) 



Generic Characters. — Bill moderate, compressed, slightly curved, without 

 any notch, and pointed. Nostrils basal, oval, partly covered by a mem- 

 brane. Wings very short, concave, rounded; the first feather rather short, 

 the fourth or fifth feather longest. Tail variable in length, but generally 

 short, its feathers soft and rounded. Feet strong; the tarsus rather long; 

 the middle toe united at the base to the outer toe, but not to the inner 

 toe; hind toe rather long; claws long, stout, and curved. Body plumage 

 loner and soft. 



NORTHERN WREN. 



Troglodytes borealis. 



Specific Characters. — Darker in colour, and with the under parts more 

 strongly barred; beak stouter, and legs and feet much stouter than in the 

 Common Wren, T. parvidus. Tarsus 0.88, hind toe with claw 0.68, against 

 tarsus 0.6, and hind toe with claw 0.55. Soft parts as in the Common 

 Wren. Total length about four inches, culmen 0.65, wing 2.1, tail 1.5, 

 tarsus 0.88. 



This is a large variety of the Common Wren, and has arrived at 

 that period of "evolution" when systemizers consider it has a right 

 to specific distinction. It is, as far as at present known, an inhabi- 

 tant of Iceland and the Faroes exclusively. It is rare in Iceland, 

 but is more common in the Faroes. According to Fischer ("Journal 

 fur Ornith.," 1861,) it frequents the neighbourhood of homesteads, 

 and is protected by the inhabitants. 



Captain Field en has given us, in the "Zoologist," the best account 

 of this interesting little bird, from which I copy the following: — 



" This species of Wren is spread throughout the Faroe Islands, 



