Wayne: Birds of South Carolina. 185 



I have invariably noticed that when tliis diminutive wren arrives 

 in September, or the first week in October, a severe winter can 

 be expected. On September 29, 1903, I noted the first bird, and 

 the winter of 1903-1904 was very severe. Tliis has been the 

 case in all severe winters since 1886. 



The Winter Wren is by no means common, but a few birds 

 can readily be found in woods where there are thickets and fallen 

 trees and more or less water on the ground, from October until 

 the middle of March. It is very retiring in its habits and is con- 

 sequently oftener heard than seen. I have seldom heard it 

 sing in winter, but from March until April 4, when the days are 

 mild, I have often heard its exquisite song. 



Mr. William Brewster' found the Winter Wren breeding in the 

 Black Mountains, North Carolina, at an elevation of 5,000 to 

 6,000 feet. This is the most southern breeding record known 

 in the Alleghanies, but the species breeds as far north as Moose 

 Factory. 



288. Cistothorus stellaris (Licht.). Short-billed Marsh 

 Wren. 



This is another diminutive species whose haunts are entirely 

 different from those of the preceding. It inhabits freshwater 

 marshes and fields which are covered with broom grass, rarely, 

 if ever, resorting to the salt marshes. The centre of abundance 

 is on the rice plantations, where it is exceedingly abundant dur- 

 ing the autumn, winter, and spring months. My earliest record 

 is September 23, 1896, and my latest May 15, 1906. The birds 

 sing in the early part of April and continue in song until they 

 migrate. I have noticed that this species is always very active 

 about dusk, and long after the sun has set numbers can be heard 

 uttering their peculiar call notes throughout the marshes or fields 

 of broom grass. 



Although the Short-billed Marsh Wren has been said to breed 

 on St. Simons Island, Georgia,- I question the statement as 

 I failed to find any of these birds at Darien in May, 1891, and I 

 doubt if it breeds in any portion of the South Atlantic States; 

 it has, however, been found breeding from the Middle States to 

 Maine, and Mr. E. A. Preble detected it at Norway House, Kee- 

 watin, on June 20. 



^Auk, III, 1886, 176. 2 Bailey, H. B., BuU.Nutt. Orn. Club, VIII, 1883, 38. 



