Wren. PASSERES. TROGLODYTES. 195 
ped with yellowish-white. Base of the bill, region of 
the eyes, and all the lower parts yellowish-grey ; but 
with a tinge of brown upon the breast. - Legs and feet 
brown. 
The crest of the female is not so bright in colour as that of 
the male bird ; in other respects she does not exhibit any 
difference. 
Genus XXVIII. WREN. TROGLODYTES, Cuv. 
GENERIC CHARACTERS. 
Bill slender, slightly compressed, emarginated, curved, or 
rarely strait. Nostrils basal, oval, half-covered by an arched 
and naked membrane. Wings short, rounded, having the 
first quill very short; second considerably shorter than the 
third ; fourth and fifth of equal length, and the longest in 
each wing. ‘Tail short, rather rounded, and carried erect. 
Legs strong. ‘Tarsus of the same length as the middle toe ; 
toes three before and one behind ; the outer toe joined at its 
base to the middle one; the outer and inner ones of equal 
length. 
Although the wrens have been included, by many syste- 
matists, in the genus Motacilla, or in that of Sylvia, and 
have been left in this latter one by Temmincx, they pos- 
sess characters sufficiently marked to warrant the forma- 
tion of a new genus for their reception. ‘This has been done 
by Mons. Cuvier (in that scientific and excellent work 
mentioned under the preceding genus), as also by VIELLOT, 
and other recent authors. The plumage of the different spe- 
- cies is plain, and mostly confined to shades of brown. Their 
form is short and thick. They are birds of retired habits, 
and are usually seen solitary, or in pairs. The common 
wren is the only European species, but America produces a 
considerable number of others. 
