MARSH-WREN. 
489 
however, of this bird, obtained by Commerson on the 
banks of La Plata, is too imperfect for certainty. It 
was found probably in a marshy situation, as it entered 
the boat in which he was sailing. The time of arrival 
and departure in this species, agreeing exactly with the 
appearance of the Marsh-Wren of Wilson, inclines me to 
believe that it also exists in Pennsylvania with the fol- 
lowing, whose migration, according to Audubon, is more 
than a month earlier and later than that of our bird. Mr. 
Cooper, however, has not been able to meet with it in 
the vicinity of New York. 
The Short-Billed Marsh-Wren is about 4J inches long. The bill 
J an inch from the tip to the gape of the mouth. Above blackish- 
brown, varied with white and rufous, chiefly along the shafts of the 
feathers ; top of the head also lined. Wings dusky, conspicuously 
barred with whitish and rufous on the outer webs, 3d and 4th prima- 
ries longest and nearly equal to each other. Upper tail-coverts, ele- 
gantly barred with the three colors above mentioned. Tail rounded, 
barred with dusky and rufous grey. Below, centre of the breast and 
throat, white ; sides of the breast, belly, and vent pale rust-color ; 
beneath the wings the flanks are faintly barred, the feathers having 
a single subterminal band. Legs and feet pale brownish flesh-color ; 
claws scarcely more than half the length of those of the common 
Marsh-Wren. Bill rather dusky above, pale beneath, considerably 
curved, but much compressed at the sides. — The feinale and young 
scarcely distinguishable from the adult male. 
MARSH-WREN. 
( Troglodytes palustris , Bonap. Audubon, pi. 98. Orn. Biog. vol. i. 
p. 500. Certhia palustris, Wilson, ii. p. 58. pi. 12. fig. 4. Phil. 
Museum, No. 7282.) 
Sp. Charact. — • Dark brown ; crown dusky brown ; neck and 
back the same streaked with whitish ; a white stripe over the 
eye ; beneath silvery- whitish, the vent only tinged with pale 
brown ; bill J of an inch. 
This retiring inhabitant of marshes and the wet and 
sedgy borders of rivers, arrives in the Middle States of 
