No. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 171 



The spread of the English Sparrows into the farming districts 

 has probably had much to do with the decrease of this species, as 

 they preempt all the suitable breeding hollows before the House 

 Wrens arrive. In New Haven, where this Wren formerly bred 

 commonly, even in the center of the city, its song is now seldom 

 heard. 



The House Wren has been heard singing as late as Sept. 16 

 (1904) by L. B. B. 



Nannus hiemalis hiemalis (Vieillot). Winter Wren. 



A tolerably common fall migrant in October, a much rarer 

 winter resident and spring migrant; very rarely breeds in this 

 state. 



Fall migration. Earliest record. New Haven, Sept. 18, 1903 ; 

 Portland, Sept. 23, 1893. Latest record. New Haven, Nov. 4, 

 1903; Portland, Nov. 27, 1889. 



Winter records. Dec. 1, 1879, New Haven (Goodrich, in coll. 

 of L. B. B.) ; Jan. 14, 1901, Jan. 15, 1902, March 7, 1903, Jan. 9, 

 1905, Guilford (L. B. B.) ; Feb. 1, 1877, Feb. 4, 1885, March 12, 

 1889, Feb. 22, 1890, Feb. 23, 1891, Feb. 22, 1899, Dec. 9, 1901, 

 Dec. 21, 1908, Portland (J. H. S.). 



Spring records. New Haven, May 15, 1889 (L. B. W.), 

 April 10, 1889, May 3, 1904 (L- B. B.), March 29, April 26, 

 1907 (A. A. S. and C. H. P.) ; Bridgeport, May 3, 1892 (Eames). 



Summer record. Sage's Ravine, Salisbury, July 5, 6, 1906, 

 two pairs found (H. K. J.). 1 



One noticed singing as late as Nov. 4 (1903) by L. B. B. 



Cistothorus stellaris (Naumann). Short-billed Marsh 

 Wren. 



A rare summer resident from June to September; tolerably 

 common in parts of Litchfield County. 



Earliest record. New Haven, May 22, 1890 (L. B. W.) ; 

 Portland, May 15, 1888. 



Latest record. New Haven, Oct. 13, 1906 (H. H. Townsend) ; 

 Portland, Oct. 14, 1892. 



Distribution. Litchfield, reported fairly common by E. S. W., 

 and eggs found June 8, 1891, and June 27, 1907, and two birds 



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1 Job, The Sport of Bird Study, p. 310. 



