312 
BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA . 
extensive swampy places. This species is quite shy and owing 1 to the fact 
that these birds frequent the thick grasses, rushes and rank weeds in, 
often almost impenetrable swamps, they frequently escape notice. I am 
inclined to think the Short-billed Marsh Wren is more plentiful and gen¬ 
erally distributed, in suitable localities, throughout the state than it is 
usually supposed to be by naturalists and collectors. Concerning 
this species Dr. John W. Detwiller, of Bethlehem, writes me as fol¬ 
lows : “ Mr. John Mack brought me a nest, which he found below Qua- 
kertown, Bucks county, while hunting Woodcock. The nest was newly 
constructed, but contained neither eggs or young. Later I found a nest 
with fresh eggs, in the month of July, on Chain Dam island, Lehigh river.” 
I have observed this wren as a summer resident in Chester and Delaware 
counties; it breeds regularly, according to Dr. A. C. Treichler, in Lan¬ 
caster ; Mr. Sennett has never observed it in Erie county, but Mr. H. C. 
Kirkpatrick, of Meadville, informs me it is a summer resident in the low 
swamps and marshes in Crawford county. It is not reported as occur¬ 
ring in any of our mountainous districts. This species arrives here 
about the last week in April, and remains until about the 1st of October. 
Food of seven of these wrens examined by the writer consisted of bee¬ 
tles and spiders. 
Cistothorus palustris (Wils.). 
Long-billed Marsh Wren. 
Description. 
Bill about as long as head; maxilla blackish ; mandible blackish toward end, 
but paler at base; legs pale brown (in dried specimens dark brown) ; eyes dark 
brown ; length b\ or a little over ; extent nearly 7 inches. Above dull brown, a lit¬ 
tle brighter on rump; crown and space on back nearly black ; pileum is divided by 
a faint brownish median stripe; interscapular region and sides of neck streaked 
(short) with white; tail blackish and barred transversely ; a white streak over and 
extending back of eye ; lower parts whitish, sides, flanks and under tail-coverts 
more or less light reddish-brown ; under tail-coverts, faintly barred. 
Habitat .—Southern British America and the United States, south, in winter, to 
Guatemala. 
The Long-billed Marsh Wren, an inhabitant of low marshy grounds 
grown up with sedges and high grasses, is a common summer resident, 
in suitable localities, throughout the state. It arrives in Pennsylvania 
about the same time as the Short-billed Marsh Wren, and remains usu¬ 
ally a little longer than its short-billed relative, before leaving fo£ its 
winter home. I have captured individuals in southern Pennsylvania as 
late as the middle of October. The song of this species, Mr. Bidgway* 
says, “resembles somewhat that of the House Wren, but is much less 
agreeable, having a peculiar sputtering or scolding character.” The 
following paragraphs relating to this vivacious and secretive little den- 
* Ornithology of Illinois, p. 100. 
