56 Sketches of Some Common Birds. 



possession of the premises. We are accustomed to its em- 

 phatic scolding and its agile movements; hence we are 

 not surprised to see it whisk from the Shrubbery or from 

 beneath the sidewalk, and thence disappear around a tree- 

 trunk or among the foliage of the larger trees. Yet any- 

 where it will pour forth its cheerful gush of song, regard- 

 less of one's presence, and for the entertainment of no- 

 body except itself 



The house wren inhabits eastern United States and 

 southern British Provinces, ranging westward in the 

 north to the Missouri Biver, and in the south to the Great 

 Plains, being migratory in the northern portions of its 

 habitat, and breeding throughout its range. In "Natural 

 History Survey of Illinois," Vol. I, Eobert Eidgway says: 

 " The house wren is, for some reason or another, very rare 

 in many parts of southern Illinois. Indeed, during the 

 writer's residence in Wabash County, he never even heard 

 the note of an individual of this species, its place being 

 taken entirely by Bewick's wren. In the neighboring 

 county of Eichland, however, the house wren is not un- 

 common in some localities, but the other species still 

 largely preponderates in numbers; and the same is the case 

 in Knox County, Indiana, in all localities where the writer 

 has been able to make observations. To the northward 

 the present species gradually increases in abundance, 

 until finally, in the northern counties of the State, the 

 proportional representation of the two is reversed." 



On their return from the South, the house wrens reach 

 our latitude from March 20th to April 12th, the males 

 usually appearing in advance of the females. As is notice- 

 able when the sexes travel northward separately, the in- 

 dividuals that arrive earliest are less vivacious and musi- 

 cal than when the presence of the fair sex evokes their 

 best manners and their most brilliant execution of song. 

 The first arrivals seem to shun the society which they 

 seek several weeks later, haunting the low bushes and 

 shrubbery; and it is only when the females are present in 

 numbers, toward the latter half of April, that both sexes 

 exhibit their full sprightliness, impudence, restlessness, 

 and musical ability. 



The usual nesting-places of the house wrens are nooks 



