82 JVBSTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 



June another nest was found containing six young a few days 

 old ; this was sunk into the thick moss which enveloped the 

 trunk of a fallen tree. A bunch of ferns grew out of the moss 

 near the entrance of the nest, and the startled flight from them 

 of one of the parent birds caused the discovery of its home. 

 On the Sth of August, 1S7S, Mr. Bradbury took a third nest of 

 the winter wren, which contained four eggs; and Mr. Dcane 

 presents the following account, the quotation being the descrip- 

 tion furnished him by Mr. R. R. McLeod who xisited the lo- 

 cality before the nest was removed : 



"The nest was in a place which does justice to the name Troglodytes 

 for it was awav under an upturned cedar-root in the dark. The tree 

 had blown over somewhat, and in the roof made by the earth and roots 

 she had excavated a hole and made her nest, where but the least glimpse 

 of light could have reached it. A little spring flowed over the rocks be- 

 neath, on which the tree stood, and only by watching the bird with a 

 feather in her mouth was the nest discovered. Mr. Bradbury put his 

 head and shoulders under the roots and the wren fluttered past his face, 

 and diligent search revealed the trea -Jure." Tiie nest, which is in the 

 possession of Mr. H. A. Purdie. is now before me. and presents a beau- 

 tiful bit of bird architecture. It differs from the one already described, 

 by having the top open, similar to that of Sayoriiisfiiscus, though pos- 

 sibly the bird had some natural crevice through which to pass before 

 reaching the nest. It is composed mainly of very compact green moss, 

 with a few hemlock twigs interwoven, and is lined profusely with feath- 

 ers of the Canada jay, blue ja_v, and other species, which arch over the 

 eggs so as almost to conceal them. The average measurement of these 

 eggs is .6;; bv .49 of an inch. The ground-color is pure white, and 

 marked with flne spots of reddish-brown and a few blotches of a darker 

 shade. In one specimen the markings are very small and faint, and 

 free from any blotches. This was undoubtedly a second brood, ami one 

 egg was far advanced in incubation. 



The winter wren's eggs arc six or eight in numl^er. equally 

 pointed at both ends, average about .66 by .51, and are crystal- 

 white, scantily dotted with bright reddish-brown. On some 

 specimens the markings are evenly distributed : while on others 

 they form a wreath al)out the large end. These eggs resemble 

 those of the chickadee. 



The winter wren in Russian America is known as Variety 



