HOUSE WREN. . 047 



l:ir iMiiiits or cuarse cilia, in youii^j; tiinls, however, it is more regular in form, there beiuj^ four points, two 

 loii^ ones in the niiillle and two shorter ones at each side, which c^jnimence farther down on the tongue than 

 the others and terminate at their base, forming a rounded or graduated end. 



Color. Adult. Above, dark I'eddish brown ; lightest on the rump and darkest on the head where the 

 feathers usually show darker centers. Wings, above, dark brown, band on the outer webs, with the same 

 color as the back, which becomes lighter on the first quills. Tail, like the rump but barred with dusky. 

 Beneath, dirty white, with the breast and flanks tinged with brownish which becomes quite rufous on the 

 latter. The flanks, breast and sides are usually somewhat obscurely barred. Under tail coverts, white, 

 barred with rufous and black. Under surfiice of wings, glaucous. Under wing coverts, pale buff. Under 

 part of tail, paler than the upper, otherwise similar. Ear coverts, mi.xed with whitish. In autumn there is 

 a more rufous suff"usion beneath and the whole head is darker. Young, similar, but with the wing coverts 

 spotted with white. In this stage there is sometimes a white superciliary stripe. Sexes, alike. Neck- 

 brown. Bill, brown lighter at the basal portion of the undar mandible. Tarsi and feet brown. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



This is an e.\tremely variable species in shading and coloration. The middle of the back is frequently 

 barred, but in a specimen from Florida, which I collected during winter, there are conspicuous dark traverse 

 lines from the forehead to the end of the tail, while the feathers of the breast, sides, abdomen and flanks are 

 crossed with fine wavy lines of dark brown. The throat is washed with reddish brown and the whole breast 

 is very dark. I have specimens running from this through every gradation of shading and marking to a 

 very pale specimen, also from Florida, where the bars on the body are so nearly obsolete as to be only just 

 perceptible on the middle of the back and flanks. I have elsewhere ( Naturalists' Guide, p. Oo, 90, 97 ) 

 proved conclusively that the americanus of Audobon was only a darker type of aedon. The House Wren 

 differs from T, hyemilis in being larger, darker, and in having the sides of the neck unspotted. The flanks 

 and abdomen of hyemalis are also more deeply barred with black. Habitat throughout the entire United 

 States and probably through Mexico. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Average measurements of ."iO specimens from Florida and New England. Length, 4.S0; stretch, fi.'2ri : 

 wing, 2(18: tail, l.(V2: bill. .Ill; tarsus, .fii). Longest specimen, .'i.G^) : greatestextent of wings, 7.00; longest 

 wing, 2.90 : tail. 2.40 ; bill, .fiO ; tarsus, .75. Shortest specimen, 4.30 ; smallest extent of wings, G.IO ; short- 

 est wing, 1 70 : tail. l.oO ; bill. .40 ; tarsus, .oO. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Nkpts, built in holes of trees or in bird boxes. Composed of pieces of grape-vine bark, sticks and weeds 

 which usually completely fill the cavity in which it is placed, leaving a hole in the center which is thickly 

 lined with feathers or fine strips of bark. Dimensions. The external diameter varies with the space which 

 C)ntain5 tlie nest ; one which I have before me, that was collected f)r me by Mr. Ruthven Dean, measures 

 about four inches externally and two internally. E««s, usually rather oval in form, pinkish white in color, 

 thickly dotted with reddish brown. These minute spots sometimes become confluent and cover the entire 

 surface with a deep washing of the same color. The larger ends of such specimens are very apt to bo darker 

 than the remainder of tlie egg. I am indebted to Messrs. Deane and Brewster for the privilege of examin- 

 ing the large series of eggs of this species which they have in their cabinets. 



HABITS. 



One can sonrcely pass a tliicket tlirougliout the entire extent of Florida from Key 



West to the northern Ihnits of the state, wlietlier on the borders of the hammock or in llie 



vast ]Mne barrens, withont exciting tlie ire of the irascible House Wrens. They \vill 



suddenly start n\) at the feet of the pedestrian and, alighting on a log or bn.-^h, scold liini 



