FAM. V. MOCKING BIRDS, WBENS, ETC. 



67 



from sight and appear again with surprising quickness. Its 

 fear and its curiosity alternate in power over its actions. It 

 has been called mocking wren from the variety of its vocal 

 notes, some of which are so loud and ringing as to be com- 

 parable with those of the tufted titmouse. It is probably resi- 

 dent wherever found. (Mocking Wren.) 



Length, 54 ; wing, 2| (2^2|) ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, } ; culmen, f. East- 

 ern United States, west to the Plains, and north to southern New York 

 and southern Michigan ; 

 resident or nearly so 

 throughout. 



5. Bewick's Wren 

 (719. ThnjdtJtoriis be- 

 ivickii). — This is a 

 slightly smaller, less 

 distinctly barred wren 

 than the last, with 

 a tail quite a little 

 darker than the back, 

 and without bars on the 

 primaries ; the outer 

 tail feathers are black, 

 tipped with grayish. 



This species is a sweet singer of clear, ringing notes, and 

 very fearless. It is found around outhouses, fences, etc., and 

 is in every way more deliberate in its movements than either 

 the house or Carolina wrens. Its long tail frequently leans 

 toward the head. 



Bewick's Wren 



Length, 5]- ; wing, 2i (2-2}) ; tail, 2^ ; tarsus, f ; culmen, h Eastern 

 United States, west to Nebraska ; common in the Mississippi Valley ; rare 

 and local east of the AUeghanies and north of central New Jersey ; mi- 

 gratory along the northerii border of its range. Baird's Wren, a form of 

 this species (TIO^. T. h. leucogdster). is found in Texas, Kansas, and west- 

 ward to southern California. It is a more ashy-hvo^n bird, with pure 

 white on the middle of the belly, and white specks on the sides of the 

 head. 



