Page:Ornithological biography, or an account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America, vol 2.djvu/489

Rh York. It occurs chiefly in maritime districts, or the neighbourhood of lakes, ponds or rivers.

2. The House Wren is abundant during spring and summer in the Middle Districts, and extends in small numbers eastward into Maine. Very few are seen to the west of the Alleghanies, and none in Kentucky or Louisiana. It is fond of the neighbourhood of human habitations.

3. The Winter Wren abounds in Maine during summer ; some breed in the mountainous portions of the Middle States ; none are seen in the south, unless during winter, when a few occur as far as Charleston in South Carolina ; at this period it is abundant in Kentucky.

4. Bewick's Wren is rather rare in the Southern States, from Loui- siana to South Carolina, being found in the interior. Its breeding place is unknown.

5. The Wood Wren is found here and there in Maine, where it breeds. It winters in South Carolina.

6. The Long-billed Marsh Wren is altogether maritime, and abounds from the Carolinas to the Middle States.

7. The Short-billed Marsh Wren occurs near fresh water only, and is abundant from the Carolinas to Maine. The two last species are never seen at a greater distance from the coast than a few miles.

Adult Male. Plate CLXXIX. Fig. 1.

Bill of moderate length, nearly straight, slender, acute, subtrigonal at the base, compressed towards the tip ; upper mandible with the rido-e rather sharp, the sides convex towards the end, the edges acute and over- lapping, the tip slightly declinate and acute ; lower mandible narrow, the sides convex, the sharp edges inflected. Nostrils elliptical, straight, basal, with a cartilaginous lid above, open and bare. Head ovate, neck short, body rather full. Legs of ordinary length, rather large ; tarsus rather long, compressed, covered anteriorly with seven scutella, sharp be- hind ; lateral toes equal and smallest, hind toe strongest : claws rather long, slender, acute, arched, much compressed.

Plumage soft, blended, slightly glossed. No bristly feathers about the base of the beak. Wings short, broad ; the first quill half the length