404 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



4 



throat and rich yellowish-brown tail, and by its notes, a peculiar 

 insect-like chirp, and a delightful clear whistling song. The nest of the 

 Canon Wren is generally built in some deserted tunnel or cave, in holes 

 in bluffs, and at times in unused buildings. It is frequently placed on 

 some projecting ledge or shelf. Mr. H. D. Minot found a nest of this 

 bird containing five fresh eggs near Manitou, Colorado, on June 8, 

 1880. It was placed in the roof of a cave, about ten feet from the 

 ground in a niche or pocket with a narrow vertical opening, The 

 stones being broken away revealed the nest which rested on the bot- 

 tom slab. In appearance the structure resembled that of the Eastern 

 Wood Pewee, being composed of twigs, stalks, bits of leaves, thickly 

 felted with down silk and feathers. Mr. Scott says that in Southern 

 Arizona three broods are generally reared each season. The eggs are 

 from four to six in number. Mr. G. B. Benners found this species 

 nesting on the rocky side of a dry river bed in Comal county, Texas, 

 and on April 10 took a set of five eggs. 



The eggs are white, speckled with lavender-gray and vinaceous- 

 rufous ; in some specimens the markings are chiefly at the larger ends, 

 where they often form indistinct wreaths. Three sets in Mr. Norris' 

 cabinet are from Comal county, Texas ; one of four taken March 20, 

 1884, measures .70 x .54, .71 x .54, .73 x .52, .78 x .52 ; another collected 

 March 25, 1887, contains five eggs; sizes, .78 x .57, .76x-56, .69 x .55, 



75 x -56, -7 6 x -5 6 5 tne third is of nve e ggs : -7 1 x -54> -7 1 x -54, -74 x -55> 

 .70 x .54, .71 x .54 ; average .72 x .53. 



718. Thryothorus ludovicianus (LATH.) [60.] 



Carolina 'Wren. 



Hab. Eastern United States except Southeastern Florida (rare toward the northern border,) west 

 to the edge of the Great Plains; south to gulf coast, including Northeastern Mexico. Rare in Southern 

 New England. 



A common and well known bird in the more southern portion of 

 its range, being rare or local north of latitude 40. It may be found 

 almost everywhere, but shady ravines, wooded and rocky banks of 

 streams, piles of logs and brush-heaps are its favorite haunts. The 

 Carolina Wren has a loud, rich song, which it pours forth while 

 mounted on the end of a fence rail, top of a stump, or the topmost 

 branch of a tree. The song is repeated most frequently, and with more 

 vehemence during the mating season, which is early in spring. Breed- 

 ing begins in the latter part of March or early in April, and two, some- 

 times three, broods are reared in a season. 



The typical nest of this bird in Central Ohio, where it is a common 

 resident, is a massive, coarse structure, made of strips of corn-stalks, 

 grasses, hay and leaves, with an intermixture of the silk of corn ; the 



