SPECIES 6. SYLVM TROGLODYTES?* 
WINTER WREN. 
[Plate VIII.— Fig. 6.] 
Motucilla troglodytes? Linn. — Peale’s Museum, JVo. 7284. 
This little stranger visits us from the north in the month of 
October, sometimes remaining with us all the winter, and is al- 
ways observed early in spring on his rout back to his breeding 
place. In size, colour, song and manners he approaches nearer 
to the European Wren (ikf. troglodytes), than any other species 
we have. During his residence here, he frequents the projecting 
banks of creeks, old roots, decayed logs, small bushes and rush- 
es near watery places; he even approaches the farm-house, ramb- 
les about the wood-pile, creeping among the interstices like a 
mouse. With tail erect, which is his constant habit, mounted 
on some projecting point or pinnacle, he sings with great ani- 
mation. Even in the yards, gardens and outhouses of the city, 
he appears familiar, and quite at home. In short, he possesses 
almost all the habits of the European species. He is, however, 
migratory, which may be owing to the superior coldness of our 
continent. Never having met with the nest and eggs, I am un- 
able to say how nearly they approximate to those of the former. 
I can find no precise description of this bird, as an American 
species, in any European publication. Even some of our own 
naturalists seem to have confounded it with another very differ- 
ent bird, the Marsh Wren,^ which arrives in Pennsylvania from 
* Wilson appears to be correct in considering this species the same as the 
European. The following s 3 mon 3 Tnes may be given: — Motacilla troglodytes, 
Linn. Syst. Ed. 10, i, 188. — Gmel. Syst. j, 993. — Sylvia troglodytes, Lath. Ind. 
Orn. II, p. SAT. — Le Roilelel, Buff. PI. En. 651, fig. 2. 
f See Professor Barton’s observations on tliis subject, under tlie article 
.Volacilla troglodytes? “ Fi-agments,” ^c. p. 18, Ib. p. 12. 
