ROCK WREN. 
115 
concave, the tip narrow. Nostrils oblong, basal, with a cartilaginous oper- 
culum, open and bare. 
Head oblong ; neck short ; body slender. Legs of ordinary length ; tarsus 
longer than the middle tofe, compressed, with eight anterior distinct scutella, 
and two lateral plates forming a sharp edge behind. Toes of moderate size, 
the third and fourth united at the base, the first large, the outer considerably 
longer than the inner. Claws rather long, moderately arched, much com- 
pressed, with an abruptly tapering, very acute tip. 
Plumage soft and loose. Wings of moderate length, convex, broad and 
rounded • the first quill very short, the second a quarter of an inch shorter 
than the third ; the fourth longest, but scarcely exceeding the third and fifth. 
Tail rather long, much rounded, of twelve broad, rounded feathers. 
Bill dusky, with the edges pale yellow. Iris hazel. Feet dusky. Upper 
parts light dull yellowish-brown, and, excepting the rump, transversely 
barred with greyish-brown ; the wings barred in the same manner, excepting 
the primaries, which are plain ; the secondary coverts with a small white 
spot near the tip. Tail-coverts barred like the back, as are the two middle 
tail-feathers; the others broadly tipped with pale yellowish-red, undulated 
with dusky ; behind which is a broad band of brownish-black ; the remaining 
or basal part banded like the central feathers, the outer feather with four 
reddish-white spots or bars on the outer web, the intervals being brownish- 
black, and a spot of white on the inner web. The lower parts are greyish- 
white, tinged with sienna, the sides inclining to yellowish-red. The lower 
tail-coverts are barred with brownish-black. 
Length to end of tail 6 inches, wing from flexure 2f| ; tail 2i ; bill along 
the ridge ; tarsus T 9 J ; hind toe T V, its claw ; middle toe T 6 2 , its claw 
Smilacina borealis, Pursch , Flor. Amer. Sept., vol. i. p. 233. — Hexandria 
Monogynia, Linn. 
Leaves elliptico-obovate, ciliated ; the scape pubescent, with a corymbose’ 
umbel. The flowers are large, and of a greenish-yellow colour ; the fruit 
roundish, of a beautiful deep blue. It is extremely abundant in the dark 
woods of Maine, growing in moist places. 
