HOUSE WREN 



13S 



I have sometimes^ tho rareljj seen it in the beginning of October. 

 It is four inches and a half long, and five and three quarters in ex- 

 tent, the whole upper parts of a deep brown, transversely crossed 

 with black, except the head and neck, which is plain ; throat, breast 

 and cheeks light clay color; belly and vent mottled with black, 

 brown and white; tail long, cuneiform, crossed with black; legs 

 and feet light clay-colored ; bill black, long, slightly curved, sharp 

 pointed, and resembling that of the genus Certhia, considerably; 

 the whole plumage below the surface is bluish ash; that on the 

 rump having large round spots of white, not perceivable unless se- 

 parated with the hand. The female differs very little in plumage 

 from the male. 



M m 



