268 THE SHORT-BILLED MARSH WREN. 



barns and outbuildings of country places, or may spend the winter about the 

 wood-pile. 



The only note heard commonly is the chitit or chirr of alarm but the full 

 song is sometimes heard in May in at least the northern tier of counties ; and 

 there is just a suspicion that it occasionally breeds. Its song is a surprising 

 effort for a bird so tiny and obscure, — a cataract of tinkling, splashing, gurg- 

 ling sounds, and wanton trills, lasting for seven or eight seconds. 



No. 117. 



SHORT-BILLED MARSH WREN. 



A. O. U. No. 724. Cistothorus stellaris (Licht). 



Description. — Adult: Above everywhere streaked or barred with blackish, 

 ochraceous, and white; a little clearer ochraceous on hind neck; wings and tail 

 heavily barred, the former only on exposed webs, a very faint, pale, superciliary 

 line ; below white, clear on throat and belly, washed with ochraceous-buffy on sides 

 of neck, across breast, and on sides; flanks and crissum darker ochraceous or 

 tawny; bill short, dark brown above, pale below; culmen slightly decurved; feet 

 light brown. Length 3.75-4.50 (95.3-114.3) i'wing 1.92 (48.8) ; tail 1.55 (39.4) ; 

 bdl .40 (10.2) ; bill from nostril .30 (7.6). 



Recognition Marks. — Pygmy size; heavy dorsal and coronal streaking in 

 three shades distinctive ; unbarred below as compared with preceding species ; bill 

 much shorter than that of the next species. 



Nest, near the ground, in a tussock of grass, — a globe formed by bringing 

 the live grass-blades together, and interweaving with vegetable fibers and dried 

 grasses; lined with plant-down; entrance in side. Eggs, 6-8, pure white, un- 

 marked, — unique in this respect in the family. Av. size, .64 x .49 (16.3 x 12.5). 



General Range.— Eastern United States, north to southern New Hampshire, 

 southern Ontario, southern Michigan, and southern Manitoba, and west to the 

 Plains. Winters in the South Atlantic and Gulf States. 



Range in Ohio.— Rare, or casual in suitable localities, — the Reservoirs, Lake 

 Erie swamps, etc. Has been known to breed near Cleveland. 



IT has never been the author's good fortune to meet with this Wren but 

 once, and then during migrations, when close study was impossible. It is at 

 best a rare visitor with us-, and nothing has recently come to light regarding 

 its nesting in the state. 



Mr. Ernest E. Thompson says, "This is less a species of the deep water 

 marshes than is the long-billed member of the genus, and often it will be found 



