446 
WRENS, THRASHERS, ETC. 
GENUS THRYOTHOKUS. 
Fig. 571. 
718. Thryothorus ludovicianus (Lath.). Carolina Wren. 
Wing less than 3 ; tail not longer than wings, like back in color. Adults .— 
Upper parts rusty brown ; crown bordered by an indistinct 
blackish line and buffy white superciliary; broad rusty 
stripe back of eye; wings indistinctly barred with rusty 
and spotted with white ; under parts varying from white 
on throat to tawny buff below. Young : crown blackish; 
under parts more cinnamon brown, with indistinct cross 
lines. Length: 5.25-6.00, wing 2.18-2.50, tail 1.80-2.35, 
exposed culmen .60-.70. 
Distribution. —Upper and Lower Sonoran zones from the Atlantic to the 
Plains and western Texas, and reported by Capt. Thorne from Montana ; 
from southern Michigan south to the Gulf of Mexico; resident nearly 
throughout its range. 
Nest. — Usually in woods, in holes in logs and rocks; made of twigs, 
grasses, and leaves, lined with feathers. Eggs: 3 to 6, white, pinkish, or 
creamy, thickly speckled on or around larger end with reddish brown. 
Food. — Insects. 
GENUS THRYOMANES. 1 
General Characters. — Wing less than 3 ; tail longer than wings, black¬ 
ish, outer feathers tipped with white or gray; white superciliary stripe 
conspicuous. 
KEY TO THRYOMANES. 
1. Large, wing averaging 2.25. 
2. Upper parts reddish brown. Texas. cryptus, p. 447. 
2'. Upper parts grayish brown. Texas to California. 
leucogaster, p. 447. 
1'. Smaller, wing averaging 2.00-2.07. 
2. Bill averaging .50, upper parts dark sooty brown. California. 
spilurus, p. 446. 
2'. Bill averaging ,54-.56. 
3. Upper parts dark, rich brown. Northwest coast region. 
calophonus, p. 447. 
3'. Upper parts grayish brown. 
4. Under tail coverts heavily barred with black. Southern and 
Lower California. charienturus, p. 447. 
4'. Colors paler, under tail coverts less heavily barred with black. 
San Clemente Island .leucophrys, p. 448. 
719a. Thryomanes bewickii spilurus (Vig). Vigors Wren. 
Upper parts dark brown , with a conspicuous white superciliary; tail with 
middle feathers grayish brown, barred, only sightly contrasting with color 
of back, outside feathers blackish, spotted and barred; under parts gray, 
sides and flanks tinged with brown. Length: wing 2, tail 1.96, exposed 
culmen .50. 
Distribution. — California west of Sierra Nevada and south to Santa 
Cruz Island. 
Nest. — Usually around buildings except in unsettled districts; bulky, 
made largely of sticks and lined with feathers. Eggs: usually 5 to 7, 
1 See Oberholser’s “Revision of the Wrens of the Genus Thryomanes.” Proc. U. 8. 
Nat. Mus. xxi. 421-450. 1898. 
