SHOUT-BILLED MARSH WREN. 
43 
This was in April and they were evidently nesting, hut as I experienced great difficulty in 
making my way through the thick rushes was unable to ascertain this for a certainty. In New 
England they build about the first of June. The nests are placed in the tops of the grass, 
reeds, or rushes. But a singular fact regarding the domiciles of this species is, that each pair 
will commonly build several edifices in a season, and but a short distance apart; depositing 
their eggs in one however. There is apparently no difference between the one used and the 
others. These structures must be made for some purpose, but whether the birds are 
experimenting that they may obtain a perfect nest, or whether they are placed there for the 
purpose of attracting the attention of their enemies that they may not discover their eggs 
remains to be proved. The birds appear as solicitous when the spurious nests are approached 
as when the one which contains the eggs is disturbed, by which we may infer that the latter 
theory is correct. 
These birds are not shy, but when frightened will hide like all members of the family. 
They are constant residents in Florida but migrate to and from the North, arriving in New 
England about the first of May and departing early in October. I have never met with this 
species in the everglades or among the Keys. 
CISTOTHORUS STELLARIS. 
Short-billed Marsh Wren. 
Cistothorus stellaris Cabanis, Mus. Hern., 1851, 77. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Ch. Form, slender. Size, small. Bill, shorter than the head, quite stout and not very acuminate. Sternum, 
not strong, with the keel proportionately shorter and lower than in the preceding species. Tongue, slender, thin 
and horny, with the end, in adult specimens, bifid and divided into coarse cilia, which, in younger birds, extend 
along the sides, sometimes for one-fourth of the terminal length. 
Color. Adult. Above, pale yellowish-brown, darkest on the head and palest on the rump. The feathers of 
the back are tipped with white and edged with black. There are also some white spots on the nape. Wings, upper 
tail coverts and tail, barred with pale yellowish-white, brown and rufous. Beneath, white, with the breast, sides, 
flanks, under tail coverts, and under wing coverts, buff. The chin is also tinged with the same color and there is 
a yellowish superciliary stripe. Lores and ear coverts, dusky. There are faint indications of white on the shoulders. 
Young differ from the above in having the top of the head streaked with white. There is also more white on 
the shoulders and the feathers of the rump are striped with it. The buff of the lower parts is brighter. The 
nestlings do not differ from the plumage last described. Neck and bill, brown, the latter lighter on the basal 
three-fourths of the lower mandible. *Feet, pale brown. 
OBSEKVATIONS. 
I can see no difference between specimens taken in Florida and those from the North. This species may be 
distinguished from the preceding as described under that head. Inhabits the United States south of longitude 43°. 
Winters in the more southern sections, but I did not see it in the everglades of Florida or among the Keys. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements often specimens.—Length, 4-37; stretch, 5-50; wing, 1-79; tail, 1-40; bill, *42; tarsus, '43. 
Longest specimen, 4-50; greatest extent of wings, 5-60; longest wing, 1*90; tail, 1-60; bill, -45; tarsus, ’75. Shortest 
specimen, 4-00; smallest extent of wings, 5-24; shortest wing, 1-75; tail, 1-36; bill, *40; tarsus, -60. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests built in the tops of grass, reeds or rushes. Composed of these materials bent and woven into a hollow 
ball with a hole for an entrance at the side. They are usually lined with fine grasses. Dimensions; external 
diameter, 7 inches; internal, 1-75. 
Eggs commonly six in number, oval in form and pure white in color. Dimensions, from -GO x-50 to '75. 
