3o6 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 



Saugus, Lynnfield, and Hamilton. Although the unmusical song or chappcring 

 is often heard, the bird is difficult to see. One may note the exact spot where 

 a bird has dropped into the grass, yet on going to the place the bird cannot be 

 flushed. 



302 [725] Telmatodytes palustris (Wils.). 

 Long-billed Marsh Wren. 



Abundant summer resident, locally; May 15 to October 5 (November 5). 

 Eggs: June s to August. 



The latest date, November 5th, records a bird seen in 1904, by Mr. H. W. 

 Wright and Mr. M. C. Blake among wild rose bushes on the eastern point of 

 Nahant. 



There are a number of places in the County where the conditions are favor- 

 able for this fascinating bird, — namely, fresh marshes with a tall grovilh of 

 reeds and grasses (see page 43), and my studies of them have been made in 

 the populous wren colonies of the Ipswich River in Topsfield and Wenham. 



That these Wrens sing chiefly during the evening, night, and early morning 

 is evident (see page 45), but their energy is such that they sing throughout 

 the day as well. Their songs may be heard from their arrival until the middle 

 or end of August. Long-billed Marsh Wrens are more often heard than seen, 

 but they occasionally appear for a brief moment. They sit still or rather cling 

 to the grass and sing, or they sing as they progress through the grass, or they 

 indulge in their flight song which lifts them straight up from six to twelve feet 

 and drops them fluttering and pouring out song in the descent. The song 

 begins with a scrape like the tuning of a violin followed by a trill which bubbles, 

 gurgles, or rattles, depending no doubt on the skill or mood of the performer ; 

 at times liquid and musical, at other times rattling and harsh, but always vigor- 

 ous. It ends abruptly but is generally followed by a short musical whistle or 

 a trill, as if the Wren were drawing in its breath after its efforts. I have heard 

 one sing fifteen times in a minute. The bird often reminds me of a mechanical 

 musical toy wound up to go off at frequent intervals. Their scolding notes at 

 times resemble those of their neighbors, the Red-winged Blackbirds. 



Essex County is probably the most northern locality that the Long-billed 

 Marsh Wren reaches. Neither Mr. Knight in his Birds of Maine nor Dr. Allen 

 in his Birds of New Hampshire mentions the bird. 



