148 CITIZEN BIRD 



keeps her house nice and clean, and is very industrious 

 too, making a fresh nest for every new brood, which 

 means a great deal of work, for Wrens often raise three 

 families a season." 



''But Johnny Wren works too, doesn't he?" asked 

 Nat ; " he is always taking home bugs and things, and 

 he sings as if he would split." 



'' Wrens live in woodpiles in winter," said Rap. 



The Doctor laughed heartily at the hurry with which 

 the children told their knowledge. 



''Everybody has a bowing acquaintance with the 

 House Wren," he said, " for they are seen everywhere 

 through the United States, those that are citizens of 

 the West being a trifle paler in color and more sharply 

 barred than their easterly brothers, but all having the 

 same habits ; even the Rock Wren is as jolly and 

 sociable as his house-loving cousins. 



'' But the Wren that Rap says lives in the woodpile 

 in the winter is not our House Wren, but another mem- 

 ber of the same family — the smallest of all, called the 

 Winter Wren. 



'' He is a citizen of the far North, whence he follows 

 the mountains down to Carolina, and he is chiefly seen 

 when he visits the Eastern States in the winter — hence 

 his name. But few who see him then have heard his 

 ripple-song — one of the sweetest bits of our bird 

 music." 



'' Hear Johnny Wren singing on the trellis, and his 

 wife scolding at him all the time, too. I wonder why 

 she does it ? " said Nat. 



" She is only making believe scold," said the Doctor, 

 " because she has a quick temper and wants to say 



