WRENS 587 



species began to diminish in numbers and none have occurred 

 here since 1887, and the species began to lessen in numbers 

 about 1885. I remember the time well because when I first 

 began to collect eggs it was easy to obtain eggs of the House 

 Wren, but in three or four years none could be found and 

 the birds too were gone. They were active, nervous little busy- 

 bodies, singing constantly, as they hopped from perch to perch. 



The species as a whole is essentially a bird of civilization, 

 frequenting the vicinity of farm houses, city gardens, barns 

 and outbuildings, though in the west I have found the sub- 

 species of the Pacific coast inclined to build in hollow trees 

 along the streams miles from civilization. In general, how- 

 ever, in the east the birds prefer the settled districts, nesting 

 in bird boxes and bird houses, tin cans, crevices in barns and 

 outbuildings, brush heaps, and holes in various orchard trees. 



The nest is a rather bulky structure of twigs and grass, 

 lined with hair and feathers. In general the size of the nest 

 is adapted to the size of the cavity, the site selected being 

 always well crammed with sticks and twigs. The number of 

 eggs laid varies from five to twelve, more often about six in 

 number. They are white or vinaceous in color, but so thickly 

 peppered and sprinkled with reddish brown as to usually com- 

 pletely hide the ground color, and in addition many eggs are 

 wreathed with heavier markings of the same color at the larger 

 end. A set in my collection from Wisconsin were taken June 

 7, 1896 and measure 0.61 x 0.49, 0.61 x 0.48, 0.60 x 0.47, 

 0.58 X 0.46, 0.61 x 0.48, 0.59 x 0.48, 0.58 x 0.46. 



My best recollection of these birds and their habits is due 

 to a comparatively recent study of them in Illinois, and the 

 results of my observations there are embodied in the following 

 notes. The male accompanies the female while she is engaged 

 in nest building, singing his pleasing little twittered lay fre- 

 quently, and helping also in bringing nesting material. Both 

 birds also keep up a more or less frequent chirping and chatter- 



