_Cistothorus_, CABANIS, Mus. Hein. 1850, 1851, 77. (Type,
_Troglodytes stellaris_.)
_Telmatodytes_, CABANIS, Mus. Hein. 1850, 1851, 78. (Type, _Certhia
palustris_.)
_Thryothorus_, VIEILLOT, Analyse, 1816, according to G. R. Gray.
[Line drawing: _Cistothorus palustris._
1454 ♂]
GEN. CHAR. Bill about as long as the head or much shorter, much
compressed, not notched, gently decurved from the middle; the gonys
slightly concave or straight. Toes reaching to the end of the tail.
Tarsus longer than the middle toe. Hind toe longer than the lateral,
shorter than the middle. Lateral toes about equal. Hind toe longer
than or equal to its digit. Wings rather longer than the tail, all the
feathers of which are much graduated; the lateral only two thirds the
middle. The feathers narrow. Back black, conspicuously streaked with
white.
Of this genus there are two sections, _Cistothorus_ proper and
_Telmatodytes_, the diagnoses of which have already been given. The
two North American species present the feature, unique among our
Wrens, of white streaks on the back.
A. Cistothorus. Bill half length of head. No white superciliary
streak. Head and rump and back streaked with white. Tail dusky,
barred with brown … _C. stellaris._
B. Telmatodytes. Bill length of head. A white superciliary
stripe. Back alone streaked with white. Tail-feathers black,
barred with whitish … _C. palustris._
Cistothorus stellaris, CABAN.