Taverner and Swales — On Point Pelee Birds. 109 



Point. They frequent the densest jungle and are more often heard 

 than seen. They flit from brush to brush just ahead of tlie excited 

 collector bent on establishing an incontestable record, in a most pro- 

 voking manner, leading him through mud-holes, tangle and bracken, 

 keeping just out of gun shot, and usually out of sight, but enticing 

 him on with explosive calls of encouragement. They frequent the 

 higher branches of the trees to a greater extent than any other of 

 our wrens and are often observed at considerable elevations. The 

 song we have most frequently heard in both fall and spring could 

 be written "pre — o — o — o — o." The first sylable uttered quickly and 

 with a >silvery roll, and the "o"s"' distinctly separate, with decided 

 intervals between, and delivered with an explosive quality like the 

 sound of large drops falling from a height into a still pool below. 

 The whole uttered hurriedly and bubblingly, in the same metre as 

 the song of the House Wren. This song is perfectly distinct, and 

 like nothing else to be heard in the Transition Fauna woods. As be- 

 fore stated, August 15, 1908, the Carolina Wrens sang far more freely 

 than we have heard before. In repertoire they ai'e as versatile as a 

 Thrasher and a Catbird combined and rival, if not surpass, the 

 Chat in ability to make "funny noises." 



ISO. '""Troglodytes acdoii. — House Wren. 



Common on all May visits and to be found in almost all kinds of 

 localities, though perhaps the brush grown fences in the neighbor- 

 hood of Gardner's farm buildings were the most favored. But few 

 were noted during the early days of September, 1905, though by 

 gradual increase they became common the 14th. Common all through 

 September, 1908, and until October 14-15, when a number were noted. 

 Not as many as usual seen August 24-September G, 1907. and more 

 were listed August 15-lG, 1908. It is evident from this that the mi- 

 grant birds arrived about the last of August and first of September, 

 reaching their maximum the middle of the later month. 



190. *01hiorchilus hiciiialis. — Winter Wren. 



Noted but once in the spring. May 1-2, 1908, when single birds 

 were noted each day. In 1905, the first fall birds were noted Septem- 

 ber 14 and 15, the last days of our stay. In 1906 they were present 

 when we arrived, September 15, and became almost common by the 

 17th, after which their numbers dwindled, though a couple were 

 seen the 21st, when we departed. This last day one fellow became 

 much interested in our tent and camping equipment. It explored 

 the former several times thoroughly, searching every crevice. It 

 examined our methods of packing, and sampled the crumbs of our 

 commissary, gleaning from the cracks of the table, and seemed gen- 

 erally pleased with himself and us. Finally it flew to a neighboring 

 brush pile and scolded us as we took down the tent and piled the 



