Wrena SONG-BIRDS. 



irregular, being locally fairly plentiful during one season, 

 and the next rare, but abundant in some adjoining place. 

 It is very adroit in eluding the curious, by disappearing in 

 the long grass, and not emerging until it is a long distance 

 away, very much as many of the Ducks escape notice by 

 diving, and swimming under water. 



This bird, as well as the next species, has a peculiar habit 

 of building several nests every season. Samuels relates that 

 these are built, it is believed, to secure protection for the 

 female ; so that when people search for the nest near where 

 she is sitting, the male will lure the hunter to an empty 

 nest. Its haunts, in this vicinity, are similar to those chosen 

 by the Red-winged Blackbird. 



liOngr-billed Marsh Wren: Cistothorus palustris, 



Plate 15. Fig. 2. 



Length : About 5 inches. 



Male and Female : Above clear brown. Whitish line over eye. Neck 



and back streaked sparingly with white. Wings and tail 



brown, the latter barred. Below, white, washed with pale 



brown. Bill nearly as long as head. Dark above ; lower 



mandible light. Feet brown. 

 Song : Suggestive of the House Wren, but less agreeable, and at times 



quite harsh. 

 Season : Summer resident. Early May to September. 

 Breeds : Throughout summer range. 

 Nest: Along river borders. Made of sedge and grasses suspended 



between tall reeds, above tide level. Rather bulky, with 



entrance on one side. 

 JEggs : 6-10, chocolate-brown. 

 Bange : Eastern United States and southern Canada. In winter from 



the Gulf States south. 



These Wrens have all the alert ways and nervous habits 

 of the family. They inhabit marshy and reedy river wastes, 

 and often build their torch-shaped nests in little colonies. 

 They are abundant summer residents all along the Housar 

 tonic River, from Stratford upward, following the course of 

 tide rivers in preference to smaller streams. It is not an 

 easy nest to find, even if you know where to look, and you 



86 



