150 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



tiiiet species, the difierences in plumage being very slight, and in hahits, 

 nest, and eggs not api)reeiable, though Dr. Cooper thinks there is a diHer- 

 ence in their song. Another race or a closely allied species, T. aztecus, is 

 found in ^le.xico, near the Iiorders of the United States, hut does not have 

 an extended range. It is found in llie winter in Cuateniala. 



This species does not appear to he found beyond tiie southwestern portion 

 of Maine and the southern portions of New Hampshire and Vermont. It 

 makes its first appearance in Washington early in April, and for a wjiile is 



very aliunikint, visiting very familiar- 

 ly' the public grounds of the capitol, 

 jnivate gardens, out-huildings, and the 

 eaves of dwellings. It does not ap- 

 pear in the New England States until 

 alter the first week in May, and leaves 

 for tlu! Sduth about the last of Sep- 



^'"J^!i|^SgSBB^"^ JIMg^ tcmber. It is not observed in any 

 , 'fi-v _ w^^^S^,- .. portion of the United States after the 



first of November. 



The hollo^^'s of decaying trees, crev- 

 ices in rocks, or the centre of meshes 

 of interlacing vines, are their natural 

 resorts. Tliese they readily relinquisli 

 for the facilities offered in the society 

 of man. They are bold, sociable, confiding bird.s, and will enter into the 

 closest relations with those who cultivate their ac([uaintance, building 

 their nests from preference under the eaves of houses, in corners of the 

 wood-shed, a clothes-line box, olive-jars, martin-boxes, open gourds, an 

 old hat, the skull of an o.x placed on .i pole, the pocket of a carriage, 

 or even the sleeve of an old coat left hanging in an out-building. In the 

 spring of 18.5.5 a jiair of these Wrens nested within the house and over 

 the door of tlie room of tlu; late Robert Kennicott, where they raised 

 tlieir liroods in safety. They built a second nest on a shelf in the same 

 room, winch they entered through a knot-hole in the unceiled wall. At 

 first shy, they soon became quite tame, and diil not regard the presence 

 of members of the fann'ly. The male biid was more shy tlian his mate, 

 and though equally industrious in collecting insects would rarely bring 

 them nearer than the knot-hole, where the female would receive them. 

 The female with her brood was destroyed by a cat, but this did not deter 

 the male bird i'rom a]ipearing the following season with another mate and 

 building their nest in the same place. Another instance of a singular selec- 

 tion of a breeding-place has been given by the same authority. Dr. Kenni- 

 cott, the father of Kobert, a country physician, drove an old two-wheeled 

 open gig, in the back of which was a box, a foot in length by three inches 

 in width, ojien at the top. In this a pair of Wrens insisted, time alter time, 



Troglodyus ctdon. 



