i68 Bird - Lore 



other members of his family, undergoes no change of plumage. Young or old, 

 winter or summer, his dress is practically the same, differing merely in fullness 

 of feather and depth or purity of tone. 



His most characteristic song has been likened by Mr. 

 His Song Chapman to tea-kettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle, or whee-udle, whee- 



udle whee-udle. Wilson wrote it sweet-william, sweet-william, 

 sweet-william, while to Audubon is seemed to say come-to me, come-to me, 

 come-to me. There are variations recalling forms of the Cardinal's song, as 

 well as that of the Tufted Titmouse; and the Wren, after repeating one 

 form for some time, often changes suddenly to another, producing a rather 

 startling effect, as if another bird had taken his place. 



There are also Wren-like 'chucks' of annoyance or interrogation when a 

 stranger appears on the scene, and a peculiar fluttering 'k-r-r-r-r-uck,' which 

 resembles the bleating call of the tree-toad more than anything else. 



The CaroUna Wren is often termed the Mocking Wren, on the supposition 

 that its notes are deliberate imitations of those of other birds. Indeed, Nut- 

 tall gives a most elaborate list of its vocal performances, likening them to 

 various birds from the Kingfisher to the Maryland Yellow-throat, in addition 

 to those already mentioned. 



It seems probable, however, that the Carolina Wren is not a mocker; that 

 the resemblance of his notes to those of certain other birds is accidental, and 

 that they are as truly his own as are the song of the Robin, the Hermit 

 Thrush, or any other of our birds. 



That there is a striking resemblance between the notes of our Wren, the 

 Cardinal and the Tufted Titmouse, is beyond question; and one cannot but 

 recall the similarity of their distribution, and wonder if there is any relationship 

 between song and environment. 



As spring advances, the repertoire of the CaroHna Wren seems 

 The Nest to be enlarged, and his voice is always a characteristic one in 



the bird chorus of his neighborhood. Rocky banks with cave- 

 like retreats have now more interest for him than ever, and with never- 

 abating energy he and his mate search out each promising cavity for a 

 suitable location for their nest. This structure is usually arched over with 

 an opening on the side, constructed of leaves, roots, feathers, moss, etc., lined 

 with finer material. The eggs are four to six, creamy white, with rusty brown 

 and lavender markings often collected about the larger end. 



Old stumps and hollow trees, or cavities in stone walls, are often appropri- 

 ated as nesting- sites, and occasionally the bird becomes quite as familiar as 

 his smaller relative, the House Wren. In one instance, a brood was reared in 

 a mortise-hole in the wall of a house, in such a position that the old bird had 

 to fly in and out over the heads of the people sitting on the porch. 



Mr. Pearson has found nests in North Carolina, situated in the pocket 

 of an old overcoat left hanging on a back veranda, in a tin wash-basin on 



