318 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



[110.] 2. Troglodytes hyemalis. (Vieillot.) Winter Wren. 



Family, Certhiadse. Sub-family, Troglodytsenae, Swains. Genus, Troglodytes, Antiq. 

 Winter Wren {Motacilla troglodytes ?). Wils., i., p. 139, pi. 8, f. 6. 

 Troglodytes hyemalis. Vieil. Ency. Meth., ii., p. 470. 

 Troglodytes Europaeus. Bonap. Syn., p. 93, No. 148. 



In comparing this species with T. Europceus, the plumage is seen to be of a 

 more rufous cast, particularly on the under parts, which have none of that greyish 

 tinge observable in the European species. The black and white spots extend 

 farther towards the breast ; the latter are more defined, and the former reach to 

 the middle of the neck : whereas, in our European Wren, the whole of the neck, 

 breast, and anterior part of the body, are greyish-brown and immaculate. The 

 tips of both series of the wing covers in this species are marked with a white dot, 

 internally bordered by black ; but in the European Wren the dots on the greater 

 wing covers are scarcely seen. The bill, in this, is decidedly shorter and less 

 curved, while the feet, although the tarsi are nearly of equal length, are mani- 

 festly larger in all their details. This difference is very observable in the claws, 

 particularly in that of the hallux or hind toe, which is so strong as to give the 

 idea of the American Wren being, in structure, a scansorial bird. Its migratory 

 habits would likewise lead us to suspect that the wings would be more developed 

 than in our species ; and we consequently find they are two-tenths of an inch 

 longer. M. Vieillot, when speaking of the Troglodytes Europaeus, observes — 

 " he Troglodyte dliiver des Etats Unis a de si grands rapports avec le notre, 

 que nous le soupconnons de la meme espece ; mais celui de Canada, dont parle 

 M. Charlevoix, n'est ni ce dernier ni celui dEurope. II en est de meme des 

 Troglodytes de Buenos Ayres et de la Louisiane." — {Ency. Me'th., p. 470.) 

 This writer, nevertheless, describes the Winter Wren as distinct, apparently 

 guided in this matter by the mere difference in its plumage. A difference, how- 

 ever, so slight that, had it not been strengthened by more important consi- 

 derations, we should scarcely have been warranted in separating them. — Sw. 



A specimen of this bird was killed on the northern shores of Lake Huron, 

 probably on its way to its breeding-places in the mountainous districts between 

 that lake and Hudson's Bay. It is the smallest bird hitherto discovered north 

 of the great lakes, with the exception of the Trochilis colubris. 



