120 NEWS FROM THE BIRDS. 



The sliort-billed marsh wren is much like 

 his lono-.billed relative, thouo:h the close ol^- 

 server can readily tell them apart. He does 

 not choose such wet, boggy places, but rather 

 marshes that become dry in the summer time. 

 The reason of this is not far to seek, for he 

 builds his nest most frequently on the ground 

 or very near it, and never above standing 

 or flowing water. Although the nest is quite 

 similar to that of the long-bill, it has no mud 

 plastered into the walls, and is, therefore, not 

 so compactly built. 



When the nest is approaclied, the birds 

 hover near the intruder, chattering and scold- 

 ing in a violent manner. These birds also 

 build a number of nests that they do not use. 

 They are very difficult to see, but their noisy 

 chattering among the reeds proclaims their 

 whereabouts. Their song is not very musical, 

 but is pleasing to the lover of out-of-the-Avay 

 sounds in Nature, because it enlivens the other- 

 wise quiet and lonely marshes. Xo bird could 

 be more adept at sliding up and down the 

 culms of the grass and sedges, tipping, tilting 

 this way and that, and tossing its tail in every 

 manner imaofinable. 



