382 THRASHERS, WRENS, ETC. 



It has been claimed that the n^ne House Wren is a misnomer, be- 

 cause in the south during the winter these birds are found in the for- 

 ests miles from the nearest habitation. This, however, is owing to 

 circumstances over which the House Wren has no control. He is just 

 as much of a House Wren in the south as he is in the north ; you will 

 find a pair in possession of every suitable dwelling. The difficulty is 

 that in the winter there are more House Wrens than there are houses, 

 and, being of a somewhat irritable disposition, the House Wren will 

 not share his quarters with others of his kind. Late comers, there- 

 fore, who can not get a snug nook about a house or outbuilding, are 

 forced to resort to the woods. 



In the summer, when they are spread over a much greater area, 

 House Wrens are very particular in their choice of haunts, and for 

 this reason are locally distributed. Having selected a nesting site, 

 they become much attached to it, and return to the same place year 

 after year. It may be a bird-box, a crevice in a building, a hollow in 

 an apple tree, or hole in a fence rail ; wherever it is, it is theirs, and 

 they will fight for it against all comers. 



The song of the House Wren is delivered with characteristic en- 

 ergy — a sudden outpouring of music which completely dominates the 

 singer, who with raised head and drooped tail trembles with the vio- 

 lence of his effort. 



721b. T. a>. aztecus (Baird). Western House Wren. — Similar to 

 the preceding, but upper parts lighter and less rufous, the back and rump 

 generally distinctly barred with blackish. 



Range. — Interior of North America, east to the Mississippi Valley ; Min- 

 nesota, Illinois. 



722. Troglodytes hiemalis Vieill. Winter Wren. Ad. — Upper 

 parts dark cinnamon-brown ; feathers of the rump with concealed, downy 

 white spots ; wings and tail barred ; under parts washed with jpale cinnamon- 

 brown^ the lower breast, sides, and belly more or less heavily barred with 

 black. L., 4-06 ; W., 1-89 ; T., 1-24 ; B., -55. 



Range. — Eastern North America; breeds from the Northern States north- 

 ward, and southward along the Alleghanies to North Carolina; winters from 

 Massachusetts and Illinois to Florida. 



Washington, rather common W. V., Sept. 25 to May 1. Sing Sing, tolera- 

 bly common W. V., Sept. 18 to Apl. 27. Cambridge, T. V., rather common, 

 Sept. 20 to Nov. 25 ; rare, Apl. 10 to May 1 ; a very few winter. 



Nest.^ of small twigs and moss, lined with feathers, in the roots of a tree, 

 brush-heap, or similar place. " Eggs., five to seven, white or creamy white, 

 finely but rather sparingly speckled with reddish brown, sometimes nearly 

 immaculate, '69 x -50" (Ridgw.). 



When looking for a Winter Wren during the fall migration I go 

 to an old raspberry patch, and in the woods watch the stumps and 



