114 BULLETIN 195, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



and Quebec and occurring as a migrant farther east are described 

 as a new form with the name Troglodytes domestica baJdioini. For 

 the present at least it seems best to adhere to the nomenclature of 

 the 1931 A. O. U. Check-list. As far as this life history account is 

 concerned the subsi:)ecies are of minor consequence, and what is gener- 

 ally true of one will also apply to the other subspecies. 



One of the earliest recollections I have of birds is a pair of energetic 

 little house wrens that built in a rustic box placed inside an open 

 porch of our Illinois home. These little brown birds (unknown by 

 name to me at that time) had an intriguing fascination, with their 

 constant going and coming with flitting upcocked tails, their innumer- 

 able visits to the nest with food to satisfy their clamoring young, 

 their chattering vibrant songs, and their saucy scoldings when I ven- 

 tured too near; all those early experiences have left indelible and 

 pleasurable memories. For similar reasons the house wren has gained 

 countless human friends who cherish the presence of these birds as 

 tenants about their homes. 



Unfortunately, individual house wrens, especially those inhabiting 

 populated areas, have displayed too mucli aggression for Lehensraum 

 in their relations to other birds. This Nazi trait has brought them 

 into disfavor by persons who now hold a strong prejudice against 

 this attractive and useful bird. 



The house wren because of its depredations on the nests, eggs, and 

 young of other birds has been hailed into court where notable witnesses 

 both for and against his character ha ve^ taken the stand. The con- 

 troversy raged during the twenties as evidenced by the numerous 

 articles and communications published in the ornithological journals. 

 Sherman (1925) in a spirited article, "Down with the House Wren 

 Boxes," took a venomous stand against the wren. She reviews at 

 length the statements made by numerous observers, of the destructive 

 tendencies of the house wren especially toward those species that 

 come into direct competition with it, through their nesting in the 

 same environment. Miss Sherman's paper stimulated the writing of 

 many of the articles for and against the wren that followed. 



Chapman (1925) in an editorial on the wren controversy stated in 

 part as follows: 



The day that I returned from Florida I found the House Wren here to greet 

 me. * * * The bubbling music which springs so uncontrollably from his 

 quivering throat is too characteristic a part of the season's chorus to be spared. 

 The box which has been hanging so patiently on my grape arbor would be but 

 a sad reminder of past joys if it should not again be animated by his bustling 

 little body. 



Tried in a court of men and he no doubt would be convicted of the charges 

 made against him ; but a court of Wrens would dismiss the case and commend 

 the culprit. Purely as a matter of justice which verdict should we take? 



