134 
SYLVIAD.E. 
otlier birds; this is a note repeated several times, beginning 
slovly, and rapidly increasing in utterance : it may be tolera¬ 
bly expressed by the monosyllable dwee! or djwee! It seems 
not 'svithout considerable exertion that these sounds are 
uttered, as the little singer may be seen with its throat in¬ 
flated, the feathers of the head and neck erect, the wings 
drooping, and the little beak directed upwards and vibrating 
Avith the jarring expression of the notes thus disengaged. 
These sounds are uttered with much strength, and may be 
heard at a eonsiderable distance. This species has been 
called “the Shaking Bird of the Woods,” a title expressive 
at once of the chief part of its history. 
The Wood Wren is in size considerably larger than its 
two little congeners. On a cursory view, it much resembles 
the Avillow wren in its autumnal plumage, but the relative 
proportions of its wings and tail distinguish it in all states. 
The Avhole upper plumage of this bird is clear olive green, 
including the head, nape, back, scapulars and upper coverts of 
the tail. The Avings and tail are broAvn, each feather bordered 
Avith a narrow yelloAv edge : the tertials are more broadly 
bordered with yellowish white; and the green colour of the 
back extends over the sides of the breast. A brown line 
extends before and behind the eye, above which is a streak 
of bright yelloAv; the cheeks are yellow, tinged Avith brown 
and green. The chin, breast, and flanks are bright yellow, 
softening into the purest white on the loAver part of the 
breast, belly, and under coverts of the tail. The beak is 
pale brown, the edges and inside of the mouth ochre yelloAv. 
The legs and feet are broAvn. The upper and under coverts of 
the tail are very long, and cover three fourths of it. The 
feathering of the whole bird is very fine and silky. In their 
plumage, the male and female are exactly alike, except that, 
Avhen compared together, the dark eyestreak is in the fe¬ 
male scarcely so Avell defined. The iris is rich broAvn, and 
the orbits surrounded Avitli yelloAv feathers. 
