THRASHERS AND WRENS 1C."» 



belief that they remain permanently mated. 



This Wren sings at its work. Whether house 

 building, house cleaning, or tending the nest- 

 lings, its jolly song may be heard as though 

 labor were a constant delight. But sweet tem- 

 pered as he usually is, he is easily disturbed and 

 becomes a little shrew, scolding angrily. This 

 happens when Jay, Cowbird, or other neighbor 

 in feathers, or squirrel, becomes too neighborly. 



The song of the House Wren is very sweet 

 and tender, sung with a zest which completely 

 dominates the tiny creature. It is heard through- 

 out the day, interrupted frequently by house- 

 hold cares and love making, for they are very 

 affectionate midgets. Much time is also spent 

 in policing the immediate vicinity of their 

 home, for they are jealous guardians of what 

 seems to them to be their exclusive domains. 



The bulky nest is made of twigs and grass. 

 The eggs are six to eight in number, creamy 

 white, spotted with brown. Their plumage is 

 dark brown above, minutely barred with 

 blackish. The under parts are gray with brown- 

 ish washings. The tail is erect, the bill rather 

 long and sharp. They range locally in summer 

 as far north as Manitoba and Maine, wintering 

 from South Carolina southward. It seems the 

 increase of English Sparrows has driven the 

 House Wren from many of its former haunts. 



Winter Wren. This tiny woods sprite I have 

 not had the good fortune to see during the 

 spring migration. In the great woods of northern 

 Maine we find them common enough when we 

 go there on our annual fishing trip in midsum- 



