TROGLODYTES MEXICANUS.—(Swainson.) The White-throated Wren. PLATE XXX.—Adult Male.

In the United States, the little House Wren is associated with so many pleasing recollections, and possesses such pre-eminently social and familiar habits, that one almost expects in all birds bearing the name of wrens, to find similarity of disposition, and perhaps similar regard from the people of other lands. But this is by no means the case. There is really but one House Wren, and that is the little fellow who comes punctually in the early spring, and evidently without a doubt of his being welcome to take possession of the box or other habitation of the previous season, perhaps of many seasons. And forthwith he commences housekeeping, which usually, if no accidental discouragements intervene, is very successful, as one may judge from the number of little heads soon to be seen by peeping in at the door of his domicile.

The Wren is, in this country, nearly as much of a household bird as the Robin, of Europe, and more than any other, not even excepting the Martin, is universally regarded with favor. He is, however, the only one of the numerous species of American Wrens that shows any disposition to cultivate the acquaintance of mankind, or at all to accept of any proffered hospitalities. Though the Carolina Wren and Bewick’s Wren both venture occasionally into the garden or orchard, they are comparatively shy and apprehensive, apparently, of there being danger in too great familiarity.

The large species represented in our present plate is a native of Mexico and California, and lives exclusively in localities remote from the habitations of man. Though known as a bird of Mexico, it is not represented as an abundant species in that country, and within the limits of the United States has been observed only by Dr. Heermann, and Dr. Kennerly.

In his notes on the Birds of California, in the Journal of the Philadelphia Academy, II. p. 263, Dr. Heermann’s observations on the present bird are as follows, and contain the first notice of this species as an inhabitant of the United States:

“I first met with this bird in the fall of 1851, on the Consumnes river, but in the spring of 1852, I procured three specimens on the Calaveras river. It is an active bird, having a loud sprightly song, that is heard at a considerable distance, and which it repeats at short intervals. I found it occupied in searching for insects between and under the large boulders of rock which, along some portions of this river, are thrown together in confused masses, as if by some terrific convulsion of nature.”

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Dr. Kennerly, during the survey recently completed by Lieut. Whipple’s party, noticed this Wren in New Mexico, and obtained specimens now deposited in the National Museum at Washington city. For our present article he has very kindly favored us with the following note:

“This active little bird was observed only among the hills along the head waters of Bill Williams’ fork. In the most rugged and inaccessible places it was generally found busily engaged in searching for food, rapidly passing around and among the rocks with great activity, and accompanying its movements with its short and peculiar chirp. It is so constantly in motion that specimens can only be obtained with difficulty.”

This species was described by Mr. Swainson, from specimens sent to Europe from Real del Monte, in Mexico, and we have seen others from various parts of that country.

The figure in the plate now before the reader, is that of an adult male, and is about two-thirds of the size of life.

The plant represented is Nemophila insignis, a native of California.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Troglodytes. Vieill, Nouv. Dict., XXXIV. p. 505. (1819.)

Troglodytes mexicanus. (Swainson.)

Thryothorus mexicanus. Swainson, Zool. Ill., 2d series, I. p. (none), pl. 11.

Form. Bill, long, slender and curved; wings, short, rounded, with the fourth and fifth quills longest; tail, rather long; legs and feet, moderately strong; claws, large.

Dimensions. Total length (of skin) about 5½ inches; wing, 2½; tail, 2 inches.

Colors. Throat and neck before, silky-white. Entire upper parts, reddish-brown, with minute circular or irregularly shaped spots of pure white, which are inserted in others of very dark-brown, nearly black; quills, dark-brown, spotted on their outer webs with ferruginous; tail, bright ferruginous, with about eight regular transverse bands of black. Entire under parts (except the throat and neck before, as above), bright ferruginous, rather darker than that of the tail, nearly every feather having a small irregularly shaped spot of white, joined to another of black; bill, light at the base, darker towards the tip. Sexes very nearly alike.

Hab. California, New Mexico, Mexico. Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada., and Nat. Mus., Washington city.

Obs. This very handsome Wren is not properly to be regarded as a true Troglodytes, but belongs to a small group or sub-genus, to which M. Cabanis has given the name Salpinctes. It does not particularly resemble any other species.

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