Wrens SONG-BIRDS. 



her anger, however, and there is no mouse-like meekness 

 about her ; she becomes a tiny shrew, almost thrusting her 

 bill in your face as she pierces your ears with her persist- 

 ent, <' Chit-chit-chit-chit ! " 



Forgive her for this ; it is merely a bad habit, not really 

 an attack, and even while she scolds, her mate is off perch- 

 ing on the pointed top of the clothes-post, head raised high 

 as if he would allow no unnecessary curve in his neck to 

 impede his outburst of sparkling song. "Foive notes to 

 wanst," was the Irish labourer's comment upon this song. 

 " Foive notes to wanst," it is, and I defy any one to render 

 this appoggiatura into intelligible syllables. 



The Wrens are a most particular bird about the care of 

 their nest, and, though inhabiting pent-up places, their homes 

 are singularly free from vermin. Its industry is very great 

 in collecting the insects upon which it feeds, both itself and 

 the young, and oftentimes it seizes small butterflies when 

 on the wing. Usually, as many as twenty pairs of these 

 Wrens build in the garden bird-boxes and about the barn 

 and sheds. One nest, last year, was placed in an old leather 

 mitten which was left on a shelf in the tool-house ; the birds 

 going in and out through the wrist, and, after stuffing the 

 thing entirely full of sticks, to give stability, they lined a 

 little depression with soft duck feathers. 



Winter Wren : Troglodytes hiemalis, 



Plate I. Fig. 4. 



Length : .3.90-4.10 inches. 



Mai';;' and Female : Colour very similar to House Wren, but the under 

 parts rusty, dimly and finely barred with dark. Tail and bill 

 short, the latter dark, and slender ; feet dark. 



Song: Strong, and very musical ; not often heard here. Call note, 

 " tr-r-r-r-r-r." 



Season : Winter resident, arriving often in October. A summer resi- 

 dent of northern New England. 



Breeds : Northern New England, northern portions of New York State, 

 and Pennsylvania northward. 



Nest .■ In odd nooks, crevices, logs, etc. Of twigs mixed with moss, 

 hair, and feathers. 



84 



