150 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



T 



tinct species, the differences in plumage being very slight, and in habits, 

 nest, and eggs not appreciable, though Dr. Cooper thinks there is a differ- 

 ence in their song. Another race or a closely allied species, T. aztecus, is 

 found in Mexico, near the borders of the United States, but does not have 

 an extended range. It is found in the winter in Guatemala. 



This species does not appear to be found beyond the southwestern portion 

 of Maine and the southern portions of New Hampshire and Vermont. It 

 makes its first appearance in Washington early in April, and for a while is 



very abundant, visiting very familiar- 

 ly the public grounds of the capitol, 

 private gardens, out-buildings, and the 

 eaves of dwellings. It does not ap- 

 pear in the New England States until 

 after the first week in May, and leaves 

 for the South about the last of Sep- 

 tember. It is not observed in any 

 portion of the United States after the 

 first of November. 



The hollows of decaying trees, crev- 

 ices in rocks, or the centre of meshes 

 of interlacing vines, are their natural 

 resorts. These they readily relinquish 

 for the facilities offered in the society 

 of man. They are bold, sociable, confiding birds, and w\Vi enter into the 

 closest relations with those who cultivate their acquaintance, building 

 their nests from preference under the eaves of houses, in corners of the 

 wood-shed, a clothes-line box, olive-jars, martin-boxes, open gourds, an 

 old hat, the skull of an ox placed on a pole, the pocket of a carriage, 

 or even the sleeve of an old coat left hanging in an out-building. In the 

 spring of 1855 a pair of these Wrens nested within the house and over 

 the door of the room of the late Eobert Kennicott, where they raised 

 their broods in safety. They built a second nest on a shelf in the same 

 room, which they entered through a knot-hole in the unceiled wall. At 

 first shy, they soon became quite tame, and did not regard the presence 

 of members of the family. The male bird was more shy than his mate, 

 and though equally industrious in collecting insects would rarely bring 

 them nearer than the knot-hole, where the female would receive them. 

 The female with her brood was destroyed by a cat, Ijut this did not deter 

 the male bird from appearing the following season with another mate and 

 building their nest in the same place. Another instance of a singular selec- 

 tion of a breeding-place has been given by the same authority. Dr. Kenni- 

 cott, the father of Robert, a country physician, drove an old two-wheeled 

 open gig, in the back of which was a box, a foot in length by three inches 

 in width, open at the top. In this a pair of Wrens insisted, time after time. 



Troglodytes cedon. 



