House Wren. 55 



prising us of their movements by their few short warbles. 

 Others appear in the summits of the trees, occasionally 

 fluttering to a lower site for a brief time in their pursuit 

 of insects, but making the tree-tops their headquarters. 

 Having heard their charming warbles for the last time, 

 and having watched their movements until they shift 

 their stations from our view, we turn our steps home- 

 ward, knowing that when the invigorating breezes come 

 from the southland another season they will bear upon 

 their bosoms the birds which drear winter drives from 

 our midst. 



HOUSE WEEN. 



The lively movements of the house wrens give a higher 

 degree of animation to the scenes of the orchard, and the 

 little busybodies are ever attracting our attention by 

 whisking about the trunks and branches, and entertaining 

 us with their constant chatter. Into the heaps of fallen 

 brush they disappear, and through the interstices they 

 thread their restless way. At our approach they whir 

 away almost from under our feet, scolding energetically 

 at our invasion of their domains. It is true that they 

 utilize the nooks and crevices of outbuildings for their habi- 

 tations, but they are quite at home in the orchard, and we 

 find many cavities partially filled with dead sticks, carried 

 by the ever-active males. 



There are very few persons who have no opportunity 

 to learn something from observation concerning the habits 

 of the wren, for it dwells in the villages and cities, and 

 frequently builds its trashy nest within easy reach. It is 

 one of the familiar species, and with the robin and the 

 bluebird it claims a generous share of our regard. By its 

 cheerful, gushing songs during the nesting season, by its 

 ceaseless search for noxious insects, and by its many in- 

 teresting traits, it fully compensates our care in providing 

 it a convenient box for a summer home. Its activity is 

 remarkable, and we can not fail to admire its familiarity 

 and fearlessness, though the latter often leads it to assail 

 its neighbors, the bluebirds and martins, in their strong- 

 holds, and even to drive them from their homes and take 



