320 
PASSERIFORMES 
719. Bewick’s Wren, le railleur ou troglodyte de bewick. Thryomanes 
bevricki. L, 5-60. Plate LIV A. A little larger than a House Wren. Even, warm, 
chocolate brown above, throat and breast white, clearest on throat; shaded with greyish 
and brownish on flanks. 
Distinctions. With size, brown coloration, and habit likely to be confused only with 
the House Wren. The back is warm dark brown instead of ashy brown and is without 
barring or vermiculation except on tail and wing quills. The white is clear on throat 
instead of being tinged with brownish. No barring on flanks. 
Field Marks. A medium-sized dark brown wren without barring or vermiculation 
on body. A very distinct white eyebrow streak. Haunts the vicinity of buildings and 
tangled thickets much like the House Wren. 
Nesting. In holes or crannies in stumps, buildings, or bird-boxes. Like the House 
Wren it sometimes occupies the most absurd nesting quarters. Nest of dried grasses and 
leaves, rarely of twigs; lined with wool, hair, or feathers. 
Distribution. United States and Mexico. In Canada, occasional in extreme southern 
Ontario, and common in southern British Columbia west of the Coast Range. 
SUBSPECIES. Two forms have been recognized in Canada. An eastern one, the 
Eastern Bewick’s Wren (le RaiOeur ou Troglodyte de Bewick de I’Est) Thryomanes bewicki 
bewicki of the eastern United States, straggling occasionally into southern Ontario along 
Lake Erie; and the Seattle Wren (le Railleur ou Troglodyte de Seattle) Thryomanes 
bewicki calophonus of the west coast from extreme west coast of southern British Columbia 
southward. 
Very rare in eastern Canada but one of the notable songsters of our 
southwestern coast. It has the intimate, confiding attitude of the House 
Wren when in contact with civilization, but has a finer, more liquid voice. 
Altogether a very delightful bird to have around and as far as present 
reports go it does not seem to develop intolerance towards other species 
nesting in the vicinity. 
718. Carolina Wren, le railleur ou troglodyte de la Caroline. Thryothorn* 
ludovicianus. L, 5 • 50. The largest of our wrens and the reddest, the back approximating 
the red of the Brown Thrasher, of a lighter yet 
distinctly warm tint below. 
Distinctions. Size, comparative redness 
of back, and the distinct light eyebrow-line 
are distinctive of this species. 
Field Marks. The above distinctions 
make the best field marks. The Long-billed 
Marsh Wren has a similar eyebrow-line but 
size, general colour, and habitat will prevent 
confusion with it. 
Nesting. In holes in trees or stumps or 
in nooks and crevices about buildings, in bulky 
nest of grasses, feathers, leaves, etc., lined 
with finer grasses, long hairs, etc. 
Distribution. Eastern United States 
north intermittently into Canada in the western Lake Erie section. For a number of 
years the species was quite common on Pelee Point and on Pelee Island, but since 1913 
it seems to have become rarer. Of irregular appearance in the southern peninsula of 
Ontario along Lake Erie. A winter as well as a summer resident, it appears, persists for a 
few years, and then vanishes again. All species seem constantly endeavouring to extend 
their ranges along the boundary of their normal habitats. They take advantage of a 
favourable cycle of years to extend, only to retract when the conditions in their natural 
swing turn unfavourable to them. Other species that show this cyclic fluctuation in 
Canada are the Cardinal, the Grasshopper Sparrow, the Dickcissel, Yellow-breasted Chat, 
and the Mockingbird. 
Figure 411 
Carolina Wren; natural size. 
SUBSPECIES. Of the three subspecies of Carolina Wren only one, the Northern 
Carolina Wren (le Railleur ou Troglodyte de la Caroline du Nord), the typical race, is 
to be expected *u Canada. 
