148 



REVIEW OF AMERICAN BIRDS. 



[part I. 



nostril, .46, along gape, .83 ; tarsus, .84 ; middle toe and claw, .75 ; claw alone, 

 .22 ; hind toe and claw, .63 ; claw alone, .32. 



Cistotborus palustris, var. paludicola. 



Cistothorus palustris, var. pahdicola, Baikd. —Troglodi/tes palustris, 

 Newb. p. R. Rep. VI, iv, 1857, 80 (Pacific region). — Cistothorus pa- 

 lustris, CoopEK & SncKLEY, P. R. Rep. X, ii, 1859, 190 (W. T.). 



Hab. Pacific coast United States. 



In comparing a series of Marsh Wrens of eastern North America 

 with western, I find that they differ appreciably in certain character- 

 istics, which may perhaps be expressed by the following diagnoses : — 



Var. palustris. — Bill lengthened, equal to tarsus. Tail coverts above and 

 below either perfectly plain, or with very obsolete bands, reduced to 

 obscure spots beneath. Bands on tail broken ; scarcely appreciable on 

 the middle feathers. 



Var. paludicola. — Bill shorter than tarsus. Tall coverts distinctly banded 

 all across. Bands on tail quite distinct ; appreciable on the central 

 feathers. 



How far these differences in size of bill, etc., will be found persist- 

 ent through larger series of specimens, I am unable to say. 



I am unable at present to say to which variety the Mexican bird 

 (Selater, P. Z. S. 1856, 290), and the Guatemalan (Sclater & Salvin, 

 Ibis, 1859, 8) belong. 



(No. 7,141, Washington Territory.) Total length, 4.70; wing, 1.96; tail, 

 2.00 ; graduation, .45 ; exposed portion of 1st primary, .63, of 2d, 1.25 ; of 

 longest (measured from exposed base of 1st primary), 1.50; length of bill 

 from forehead, .60, from nostril, .38, along gape, .70 ; tarsus, .78 ; middle toe 

 and claw, .61 ; claw alone, .20 ; hind toe and claw, .50 ; claw alone, .26. 



