TllK I'.II.'DS OP XEW JERSEY. 299 



Uixvv straggler frcuii the south. 



^rentioiiiMl in Bcesley's Cape jMav list (1857), and given by Turn- 

 bull as rare. Dr. C. C. Abbott, in his list of Now Jersey birds (18G8), 

 snys: "Rare: more abundant some seasons than others."' In 1876^ 

 he ein])hasizes this statement, saying: "I have not failed to iind a 

 considerable number of them for several years past; they return year 

 after year." But in 1884- he says a few pairs occurred some years 

 ago, and in 1895^ refers to it only as "a western species." 



The only other record that I know of is one bird seen at Haddon- 

 field bv :\[r. S. N. Rhoads in 1800. 



721 Troglodytes aedon (Vieillot). 

 House Wren. 



PLATE 78. 



Adults. — Length. 4. Wing, 2. Above, brown, becoming rufescent on the 

 rump : tail and wings and sometimes the back, baned with black ; below, dull 

 white, washed with russet on the flanks and slightly huffy on the breast : flanks 

 and under tail-coverts barred with black : a pale line over the eye and large, 

 round, white concealed spots on the base of the upper tail-coverts. 



Young in first summer. — Similar, but darker below and mottled from chin to 

 abdomen with dusky edgings to the feathers. 



Xe^t in bird boxes, old Woodpeckers' holes, etc., made of twigs, lined with 

 feathers, grass, etc. ; eggs, six to eight, vinaceous, minutely speckled with 

 darker, .65 x ..52. 



Common summer resi»r!oi-it. Arrives April 21st (April 27th), de- 

 parts Octoi)er -"itli. 



The House 'Wren is (Uie of our familiar home l)irds. but one whii-h 

 seems to have l)eoom(^ less common of late years, in some sections at 

 least. 



Its cheerful warl)le used to l)e heard from every garden. Imt now, 

 from the persecution of English Sparrows or from some other cause, 

 it is only a migrant in certain localities. In autitmn the House Wren 

 takes to the fence rows and edges of woodland. Mr. S. N. Rhoads 

 saw one bird, at Haddonfield, close at hand, early in February, 1909, 

 which had evidently wintered in a lumber yard. 



' Amer. Nat., ISTti. p. 237. 



- Naturalists' Rambles about Home. 



' Birds about Us. 



