72 
GREAT CAROLINA WREN. 
ous, and are found rather farther north than in winter. In this 
last season their chirrupping is frequently heard in gardens soon 
after day -break, and along the borders of the great rivers of the 
southern states, not far from the sea coast. 
The Great Wren of Carolina is five inches and a quarter long, 
and seven broad; the whole upper parts are reddish brown, the 
wings and tail being barred with black; a streak of yellowish 
white runs from the nostril over the eye, down the side of the 
neck, nearly to the back; below that a streak of reddish brown 
extends from the posterior part of the eye to the shoulder; the 
chin is yellowish white ; the breast, sides and belly a light rust 
colour, or reddish buff; vent feathers white, neatly barred with 
black; in the female plain; wing coverts minutely tipt with white; 
legs and feet flesh coloured, and very strong; bill three-quarters 
of an inch long, strong, a little bent, grooved and pointed, the 
upper mandible bluish black, lower light blue; nostrils oval, 
partly covered with a prominent convex membrane; tongue 
pointed and slender; eyes hazel; tail cuneiform, the two exterior 
feathers on each side three quarters of an inch shorter, whitish 
on their exterior edges, and touched with deeper black; the same 
may be said of the three outer primaries. The female wants 
the white on the wing coverts; but differs little in colour from 
the male. 
In this species I have observed a circumstance common to 
the House and Winter Wren, but which is not found in the 
Marsh Wren; the feathers of the lower part of the back, when 
parted by the hand, or breath, appear spotted with white, being 
at bottom deep ash, reddish brown at the surface, and each 
feather with a spot of white between these two colours. This, 
however, cannot be perceived without parting the feathers. 
