61 



GREAT CAROLINA WREN. 

 CEETHIA CAROLINIAJVA. 

 [Plate XII.— Fig. 5.] 



Le Roitelet de la Louisiana, PL enl. 12>0,Jig. 1. — Lath. Syn. VII, j&. 507, var. B. — Le Trog- 

 lodytes de la Louisiana^ Buff. Ois. V, p. 361. — Motacilla Carolinia?ia {regulus magnus), 

 Bartr AM, p. 291. — Pe ale's Museum, No. 7248. 



THIS is another of those equivocal species that so often occur 

 to puzzle the naturalist. The general appearance of this bird is 

 such, that the most illiterate would at first sight call it a Wren; 

 but the common Wren of Europe, and the Winter Wren of the 

 United States, are both warblers, judging them according to the 

 simple principle of Linnseus. The present species, however, and 

 the preceding (the Marsh Wren), tho possessing great family like- 

 ness to those above mentioned, are decisively Creepers, if the bill, 

 the tongue, nostrils and claws are to be the criteria by which we 

 are to class them. 



The color of the plumage of birds is but an uncertain and in- 

 constant guide ; and tho in some cases it serves to furnish a trivial 

 or specific appellation, yet can never lead us to the generic one. 

 I have, therefore, notwithstanding the general appearance of these 

 birds, and the practice of former ornithologists, removed them to 

 the genus Certhia, from that of Motacilla, where they have hitherto 

 been placed. 



This bird is frequently seen, early in May, along the shores 

 of the Delaware, and other streams that fall into it on both sides, 

 thirty or forty miles below Philadelphia; but is rather rare in Penn- 

 sylvania. This circumstance is a little extraordinary; since, from 

 its size, and stout make, it would seem more capable of braving the 



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