162 BULLETIN 195, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



delightful little songsters on these wholly treeless islands, where the 

 only cover was the few stunted willows that grew in the sheltered 

 hollows, or the piles of loose rocks along the shore ; they seemed quite 

 out of place in such surroundings, so different from the shady forest 

 haunts of the closely related eastern winter wren. We found them 

 first in an inland rocky ravine along the bed of a cool mountain stream 

 and again in a grassy valley where there were a few scattered rocks 

 on which they could perch and pour out their rich songs, adding a 

 rare charm to this cheerless wilderness. But, most surprising of all, 

 we often heard the glorious, bubbling song of the winter wren coming 

 from the bleak, bare, rocky shores, where loose rocks and boulders were 

 piled in confusion at the bases of the cliffs, washed by cold ocean 

 spray and often enveloped in dense, chilly fogs. Here he sits and sings 

 his thrilling, soulful song, perched on the pinnacle of some damp rock, 

 or the brancli of some drifted snag, buffeted by the gales that sweep 

 down from snow-capped mountains, or drenched by frequent rain and 

 snow squalls, all too prevalent in that wretched climate. He must 

 have a brave and cheerful heart under his tiny coat of thick plumage. 



A. H. Clark (1945) writes: "The lively bubbling trill of the winter 

 wrens, the smallest of the Aleutian birds, is a characteristic bird note 

 of the islands. These vivacious and pert little creatures are common, 

 always keeping close to the sea, along the high rocky shores or in the 

 lower portions of the valleys, where their surprisingly loud and clear 

 notes betray their presence. These wrens are variable, and several dif- 

 ferent local forms are recognized in the Aleutian population." 



Nesting. — We did not succeed in finding a nest of any of the wrens 

 of the Aleutian Islands, but Lucien M. Turner (1886) says: "Mating 

 occurs early in May or late in April. Nidification begins immediately. 

 The nest is placed in a crevice in the face of a cliff or amongst the large 

 tussocks of wild rye or other grasses. The nest is large and well built ; 

 coarse grasses and roots form the foundation, and as the nest nears 

 completion smaller grasses are selected. The interior of the nest con- 

 tains few feathers of various species of birds. The walls of the nest 

 are well carried up, and in some instances form a partial roof over 

 the nest, leaving a hole in one side as an entrance. Five to nine eggs 

 are laid ; they are pure white in color." 



He says further, as to their habits : 



They remain on these islands during the entire year. * * ♦ Their food con- 

 sists of insects, and occasionally a few seeds will be found in their crops. * * * 

 Their note is a prolonged twitter of several modulations and repeated at short 

 intervals. When surprised, or when they come upon an object that excites their 

 curiosity, a rapid and long rattle is sounded as an alarm, soon to be answered 

 by a second bird. These two keep up the sound until all the Wrens within hearing 

 assemble to investigate the cause. As many as a dozen will surround the 

 object, and approach so close that the outstretched hand might capture them. 

 The least motion, however, disperses them so quickly that one wonders where 

 they have disappeared. They, at these times, hide under the stalks of the weeds 

 or grass. * * * At the approach of winter the bird becomes very familiar, 



