43 
Mr. H. E. Dresser on the Wren of St. Kilda. 
web of the broad scapular feather of the same russet or rich 
brown colour in all stages of plumage, whereas in the Indian 
species this mark is replaced by a white stripe. 
I have only, therefore, to reaffirm the identity of the Syrian 
with the African species, feeling satisfied that M. Oustalet, 
when he wrote his article, had not seen a fully adult male of 
P. levaillanti in breeding-dress. 
The figure of this bird (Plate III.) is taken from my Syrian 
specimen, an adult in full breeding-plumage. 
VIII.— On the Wren of St. Kilda. 
By H. E. Dresser, F.Z.S. 
When Mr. Seebohm last year (Zoologist, 1884, p. 333) 
described the St. Kilda Wren as distinct from Troglodytes 
parvulus , naming it Troglodytes hirtensis , he showed me the 
specimen from which his description w r as taken, and I then 
said that it differed so little from our English bird that I 
would prefer to reserve my opinion as to the validity of the 
species until I could examine a larger series. Since then 
Mr. Seebohm has received five more examples from St. Kilda 
through Mr. J. T. Mackenzie, of Dunvegan, Skye, one 
of which he has most courteously given to me, and has 
permitted me to examine the rest: I am also indebted to 
Mr. Mackenzie himself for one specimen. These birds I 
have carefully compared with my series of Troglodytes par¬ 
vulus, and am now able to say that I do not consider the 
St. Kilda bird worthy of specific rank. 
Compared only with specimens obtained in England and 
Scotland, the St. Kilda Wren is rather more distinctly 
barred on the back, and has the throat and breast whiter and 
less marked; but I have now before me a specimen from 
Margaard, Denmark, which has the back distinctly barred; 
as also one from Piedmont, which is, if anything, more dis¬ 
tinctly barred, and has the throat and breast dull white, 
without any traces of spots. One, again, obtained near 
Constantinople, on the Asia Minor side of the Bosphorus, is 
