TE0GL0DYTE8. 99 



bnmiiea, mandibula et pedibus coryUnis. Long, tota 4-4, ate 2-1, caudse 1-9, rostri a rictu 0-65, 

 tarsi 0-7. (Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico, TJ.S. Nat. Mus. no. 26368.) 



Eab. North Amebica, whole of the United States and part of Canada ^ «.— Mexico, 

 Charco escondido, Tamaulipas (Couch % Orizaba (Sumichrast ^), Mirador (Sar- 

 torius 9), Jalapa {de Oca ^). 



The differences said to subsist between the races of T. aedon found in the Eastern 

 States, the Western States, and Mexico, called respectively T. aedon, T. parkmani, and 

 T. aztecm, are of so slight a nature that we do not see how the sort of quasi recog- 

 nition that has been accorded to them can be long maintained. These differences are 

 concisely stated by Prof. Baird to be as follows : — 



T. aedon. First primary nearly half the longest; colour above dark brown, 



rufous towards the taU, 

 T. aztecus. Wing similar ; above paler brown. 

 T. parJcmani. First primary half the second ; above paler brown. 



Of these characters the colour of the plumage above is very variable in intensity, 

 and we do not believe it possible to distinguish specimens with any thing approaching 

 certainty by this test. 



As regards the length of the first primary, there does not seem to be any appreciable 

 difference between any of these races ; but the difference of its proportion to the rest 

 of the wing is due to western specimens generally having a rather more lengthened 

 wing than eastern ones ''. But a Florida example does not differ in this respect from 

 western birds, though Prof. Baird states the contrary was the case in the specimens 

 he examined ; so that here again is no certain test by which to discriminate these races. 



Troglodytes aedon, as we prefer to caU all these slight varieties, is a very weU-known 

 bird m the United States ; and its habits and economy are fully set forth in recent 

 works on North-American ornithology. Its range in Mexico seems strictly confined 

 to the eastern side of the country, where it extends to the environs of Orizaba and 

 Jalapa. Further south, in Yucatan and Guatemala, its place is occupied by its close 

 ally T. intermedius, of which we give an account below. 



As will be seen above, the name this little bird should bear has been much disputed. 

 That of Troglodytes aedon will satisfy perhaps all ornithologists, except those who, with 

 Dr. Coues, urge the acceptance of the names introduced by Bartram'^.: 



2. Troglodytes insularis. 



Troglodytes inmlaris, Lawr. Ann. Lyc.N. Y. x.p. 3 (ex Baird, MS.)', etMem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. 

 p. 268' J Grayson, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv. p. 299'. 



Supra griseo-mnrintis, dorse leviter fusco irrorafco ; alis et cauda fusco-nigro transfaseiatis ; subtus albidus, 

 crisso vix fusco notato; superoiliis elongatis distinctis; rostro et pedibus corylinis, mandibulse basi 



13* 



