The Short-billed Marsh Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) in Maine _ In 

 Smith's List of the Birds of Maine {cf. Smith, Forest and Stream, Vol. 

 XIX, p. 445) this species is credited to Maine upon the strength of nests 

 and eggs said to have been taken near Bangor. In my recently published 

 list {cf. Knight, List of Birds of Maine, p. 141) the species in question 

 is hypothetically included upon Mr. Smith's evidence, and upon the 

 belief that I had seen the species in a marsh near this city, though at 

 that time I had not secured any specimens. 



May 30, 1898, I secured an adult male of this species, in full breeding 

 plumage, which has already been recorded {cf. Knight, Maine Sportsman, 

 Dec. 1898, p. 8). This specimen was secured in a low, somewhat bushy 

 meadow within two miles of the Bangor postoffice, the locality being the 

 same where I thought I had seen the species during the late summer two 

 or three years previously. 



On the day when this specimen was taken, I was returning from a 

 short outing, and when passing the meadow a gust of wind brought to 

 my ear the notes of an unknown song uttered in a key that seemed dimly 

 familiar. Again the notes were heard as I stood eagerly listening, and 

 then my mind was carried back to the sage-clad hills of southern Cali- 

 fornia where oft I had stood and listened to the echoing notes of the 

 Pallid Wren Tit, similar, yet still far different from those just heard. 



Again and yet again the song was heard in different directions, and 

 soon the musicians, five Short-billed Marsh Wrens, were located in dif- 

 ferent portions of the meadow. While singing they seemed to perch 

 conspicuously on the tops of low bushes, but on being approached they 

 would descend into the tangled growth of sedges and skulk along in 

 advance of me, uttering a low grating note of alarm or defiance. 



The females seemed quieter and kept out of the way, though two 

 individuals were seen which seemed, judging by the attention paid them 

 by what were probably their mates, to belong to the gentler sex. 



The specimen secured was judged to be a male and on dissection proved 

 of this sex. For several days thereafter I frequented the locality in 

 hopes of finding nests or eggs, but though the birds remained all summer 

 I was unable to get proof positive that they nested, but of course they 

 did so. My departure for California in mid-August put an end to further 

 observations for the season. 



A second specimen, also a male, had been secured on Julv3. On com- 

 parison with individuals loaned me by Mr. Brewster, which were taken 

 near Cambridge and elsewhere in Massachusetts, the Bangor birds were 

 found practically identical in coloration and measurements. 



The specimens were also compared with a series of birds from the 

 U. S. National Museum collection, loaned me through the kindness of 

 Prof. Ridgway, and found to be practically undifferentiable from any of 

 these save two very pale-colored examples from Dakota. 



Judging by the series examined, our eastern specimens are all referable 

 to the only recognized race now on our list. Examples from the regions 

 bordering the Plains are considerably paler in coloration, especially on 

 the back, and study of a series of breeding birds from the West may show 



sufficient differences to make advisable their separation as a subspecies. 



Ora W. Knight, Bangor, Me. ^^jj-^ XVI, July. 1899. pp. X%l-X^3. 



