78 T^ESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS, 



communicated his observations to Science N'c^vs for Nov. i, 

 1878, these wrens feed their young almost exchisively with 

 small, smooth larvae, taken from the undersides of the leaves 

 of currant bushes, brambles, etc., the average being five worms 

 in two minutes. Robert Kennicott ascertained that a single 

 pair of wrens carried to their young about 1,000 insects a day. 

 Two broods are reared yearly. 



Birds bred at the extreme north of this species' range appear 

 to represent the wood wren, T. atnericatiiis of Audubon. 



Westward to the Pacific, from Dakota on the north and 

 Texas on the south, Mie house wren assumes a somewhat paler,, 

 grayer plumage and is known as Variety parkmanni, No. 49a. 

 As with the eastern form, it is safe to look for its rude nest 

 anywhere that a wren goes, such as in cavities hollowed out 

 bv birds or animals, knot-holes, broken limbs, auger-holes, 

 cracks and corners in out-houses and woodpiles, spaces under 

 the loose bark of a tree, or a fold in a bunch of skins. Such 

 a crevice is usually filled with a mass of twigs in the centre of 

 which is a bed of sheep's wool and feathers arching over the 

 eggs. The first eggs are laid about May i around San Fran- 

 cisco, and in Colorado and Oregon, a month later ; two and 

 sometimes three broods are raised. The eggs are not fairly 

 distinguishable from those of T. aedon : but are perhaps 

 slightly more slender, and the spots seem finer and of a pinker 

 tint of reddish-brown. 



It is notorious that during the summer season the males of 

 both species usuallv liusv themselves in builling several nests 

 in places where they seem quite unnecessary, Tliis has al- 

 ways been attributed to a sortof wliini or desire f-)r occupation, 

 or to a judicious foresight; providing thus against a possible 

 destruction of the first nest. Dr, Coues, discoursing upon this 

 industrious propensity witli characteristically graceful pen in 

 his Birds of the Colorado Valley, remarks : 



The birds see!n to be afflicted with an insanabilc conatniendi cacoethcs 

 (to borrow a simile from Juvenal), which impels them to keep on build- 

 ing after thej have built enough for any practicable purpose. Their 

 notion seems to be, that whatever place they select, be it large or small. 



