78 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 
of a light warm brown. Wings and tail barred. Like C. 
palustris above, but streaked with white on the back, nape, and 
rump. 
(6). The nest is essentially like that of the next species ; 
but, no mud is used in its composition, it is generally placed 
in fresh-water marshes or meadows (being sometimes built in 
long grass), and the hole is usually on the under side. The 
eggs are generally six, sometimes more, very, frail, white, and 
about °55 X °43 of aninch. The first and commonly the only 
set is laid, in Eastern Massachusetts, in thg early part of June. 
(c). I must confess to not being so very familiar with the 
Meadow Wrens as I should like to be before writing their Nat- 
ural History, for in the southern parts of New England they 
are very generally rare, and in the northern parts are not to be 
found at all. They come to Eastern Massachusetts about the 
middle of May, and inhabit the fresh-water marshes and mead- , 
ows, in certain localities, until the latter part of August, when 
they retire to the South. On their arrival, they busy themselves 
in building their peculiar nests, and it has been observed that 
they generally build several near together, every year, perhaps 
for the sake of protection. They are generally occupied in 
hunting for insects among reeds, rushes, or tall grass, but it is 
not easy to assure one’s self of this fact, since they are shy, 
and, to use a sportsman’s expression, ‘‘lie very close.” They 
can also creep about and through the reeds as silently and 
actively as a mouse. 
(d). The Meadow Wrens have a harsh unpleasant chatter, 
but also a simple and yet very pleasant song, which reminds 
one of the songs of certain sparrows, though often character- 
ized by a peculiar wren-trill. 
(B) patustris.22 Marsh Wren. Long-billed Marsh Wren. 
(Less common in Massachusetts than the preceding species.) 
(a). 5-54 inches long. Above, brown. Below, white ; sides 
shaded with brown. Tail dusky-barred. Wings and under 
22By some authors placed in the genus Telmatodytes (considered by Baird a 
subgenus). 
