ROCK WREN. H5 



concave, the tip narrow. Nostrils oblong, basal, with a cartilaginous oper- 

 culum, open and bare. 



Head oblong; neck short; body slender. Legs of ordinary length; tarsus 

 longer than the middle toe, compressed, with eight anterior distinct scutella, 

 and two lateral plates forming a sharp edge behind. Toes of moderate size, 

 the third and fourth united at the base, the first large, the outer considerably 

 longer than the inner. Claws rather long, moderately arched, much com- 

 pressed, with an abruptly tapering, very acute tip. 



Plumage soft and loose. Wings of moderate length, convex, broad and 

 rounded; the first quill very short, the second a quarter of an inch shorter 

 than the third; the fourth longest, but scarcely exceeding the third and fifth. 

 Tail rather long, much rounded, of twelve broad, rounded feathers. 



Bill dusky, with the edges pale yellow. Iris hazel. Feet dusky. Upper 

 parts light dull yellowish-brown, and, excepting the rump, transversely 

 barred with greyish-brown; the wings barred in the same manner, excepting 

 the primaries, which are plain; the secondary coverts with a small white 

 spot near the tip. Tail-coverts barred like the back, as are the two middle 

 tail-feathers; the others broadly tipped with pale yellowish-red, undulated 

 with dusky; behind which is a broad band of brownish-black; the remaining 

 or basal part banded like the central feathers, the outer feather with four 

 reddish-white spots or bars on the outer web, the intervals being brownish- 

 black, and a spot of white on the inner web. The lower parts are greyish- 

 white, tinged with sienna, the sides inclining to yellowish-red. The lower 

 tail-coverts are barred with brownish-black. 



Length to end of tail 6 inches, wing from flexure 2y|; tail 2i; bill along 

 the ridge -f§ ; tarsus yf ; hind toe T 4 2, its claw y|j middle toe T S 2, its claw y| . 



Smilacina borealis, Pursch, Flor. Amer. Sept., vol. i. p. 233.— Hexandria Monogynia, 

 Linn. 



Leaves elliptico-obovate, ciliated; the scape pubescent, with a corymbose 

 umbel. The flowers are large, and of a greenish-yellow colour; the fruit 

 roundish, of a beautiful deep blue. It is extremely abundant in the dark 

 woods of Maine, growing in moist places. 



