678 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE 



out the state. As a matter of fact it is very irregularly distributed over 

 the southern half of the Lower Peninsula, probably not occurring north 

 of the Saginaw-Grand Valley, and south of that region being found here 

 and there in moderate numbers, though absent entirely from a large part 

 of the territory. 



It seems to prefer the neighborhood of water, yet to avoid ground which 

 is regularly overflowed, and nearly all observers agree that its nest is 

 seldom placed over the water, while the Long-billed Marsh Wren is partial 

 to cattails, reeds and bulrushes, and almost invariably hangs its nest over 

 standing water. The nest of the Short-bill is globular and neatly woven 

 of fine grasses, the growing blades in which it is hung being neatly incor- 

 porated so that it is firmly held on all sides. The entrance is through a 

 small hole on the side and this hole is often nearly invisible. It is Hned in- 

 ternally with soft vegetable materials, mostly plant down, with sometimes 

 a few hairs and feathers. The eggs are four to six, rarely more, and are 

 usually pure white, without spots. According to Ridgway there are rarely 

 a few lavender spots on some of the eggs, but we have never seen such 

 specimens. 



This bird seems to be a rather late comer in spring and probably should 

 not be looked for until the last of May, while nesting probably begins 

 about the first of June. It is known to so few observers, however, and 

 frequents localities so seldom visited, that our migration records are ex- 

 tremely imperfect. N. A. Wood took a single specimen on Charity Lsland, 

 Saginaw Bay, September 16, 1910. 



It is far less noisy and demonstrative than its near relative the Large- 

 bill, and it has few or no rattling, scolding notes to attract or give notice 

 to the observer. Its song is very peculiar; a typical wren song, yet less 

 musical perhaps than that of the other members of the family. According 

 to Seton Thompson "Its ordinary note is like two stones being struck 

 together about a dozen times in succession; the first strokes with a shght 

 pause between, those following with a rapidly reduced interval until the 

 last are all run into each other." He writes the song "chap-chap-chap- 

 chap, chap, chap, chap, p-p-p-r-r-r." Our own notation would be rather 

 sit-sit, sit, sit, t-t-t-r-r-r-sit. This song is uttered at short intervals, some- 

 times for an hour at a time, while the bird perches on the tops of the grass 

 or on a convenient willow bush or fence post not far from its nest. 



Like most wrens this species builds numerous false nests, most of them 

 however, not being linecl, although occasionally the birds make several 

 nests which appear to be equally complete. In localities where a dozen 

 pairs or more have located, scores of such nests may be found and 

 it is extremely difficult to locate those which contain the eggs. Un- 

 doubtedly two broods are often reared in a season. Dr. Gibbs took two 

 eggs June 2, 1882, from a nest in a marsh at Gunn Lake, Barry county, 

 and Mr. Leon J. Cole took a nest and two eggs at Chandler's Marsh, Ingham 

 county, May 31, 1897. The writer found a fresh nest, apparently ready 

 for the eggs, near Walnut Lake, Oakland county, August 2, 1906, and the 

 male bird was singing constantly nearby. Mr. James B. Purdy states 

 that he has known of but two nesting colonies at Plymouth, Wayne county, 

 and Mr. Swales has found it but rarely near Detroit, although other 

 observers report it not uncommon in certain limited areas. Leon J. 

 Cole found nests of this species May 27, 1896 at Fisk Lake, near Grand 

 Rapids, but none of the nests contained eggs and the builders were not 

 seen. Major Boies includes the species in his list of the birds of Neel)ish 



