Tyrannula Saya, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 142.
Adult Male. Plate CCCLIX. Fig. 4.
Bill of moderate length, rather slender, broader than high at the base, straight; upper mandible with its dorsal outline nearly straight and declinate, to near the tip, which is deflected, slender, compressed, and acute, the edges sharp and overlapping, with a slight notch close to the tip; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the back broad, the dorsal line ascending and almost straight, the edges sharp, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, elliptical, partly covered by the bristly feathers.
Head of moderate size, ovate; neck of moderate length; body slender. Feet short; tarsus with six very broad anterior scutella; toes free, slender; the first stout, the lateral equal; claws long, arched, slender, much compressed, very acute.
Plumage soft and blended. Bristles at the base of the upper mandible slender. Wings rather long, rounded; primaries tapering, rounded, the outer not sinuated on the inner web, the first half an inch shorter than the second, which is half a twelfth shorter than the third, the fourth about the same length as the second, the rest moderately graduated; secondaries long, broad, rounded. Tail rather long, very slightly divaricate and emarginate, of twelve rounded feathers.
Bill and feet black, basal margin of lower mandible yellow. Iris hazel. Upper parts brownish-grey, the head more tinged with brown; upper tail-coverts and tail brownish-black; wings of a darker tint than the back, the feathers margined with greyish-white; a dusky spot before the eye; fore part and sides of neck light brownish-grey, shaded into pale brownish-red on the breast and abdomen; lower wing-coverts reddish-white.
Length to end of tail 7 inches, to end of wings 5 8/12; wing from flexure 4 2/12; tail 3 1/4; bill along the ridge 7 1/2/12, along the edge of lower mandible 10 1/2/12; tarsus 9 1/2/12; hind toe 3/12, its claw 4/12; middle toe 5 1/2/12, its claw 3 1/2/12.
WINTER WREN.
Troglodytes hyemalis, Vieill.
PLATE CCCLX. Male, Female, and Young.
The extent of the migratory movements of this diminutive bird, is certainly the most remarkable fact connected with its history. At the approach of winter it leaves its northern retreats, perhaps in Labrador or Newfoundland, crosses the inlets of the Gulf of St Lawrence on tiny concave wings, and betakes itself to warmer regions, where it remains until the beginning of spring. Playfully and with alacrity it performs the task, hopping from one stump or fallen log to another, flitting from twig to twig, from bush to bush, here and there flying a few yards; feeding, singing, and bustling on, as if quite careless as to time or distance. It has reached the shore of some broad stream, and here a person ignorant of its habits might suppose it would be stopped; but no, it spreads its wings, and glides over like a meteor.