PASSERES—TROGLODYTID.®. 199 
if not quite to our northern border as far east as Oberlin, 
where it has twice been recorded within the last five years. 
It is gradually but surely replacing the House Wren in the 
southern counties, possibly because it is the resident form 
while the House Wren migrates. It is common now as far 
east as Scioto county, and nearly as far north as Columbus. 
The food of this wren does not differ materially from that 
of the Carolina Wren. It is distinctly beneficial in its food 
habits. 
280. (721.) TROGLODYTES AEDON Vieill. 23. 
House Wren. 
Synonyms: Trogoldytes domesticus, Motacilla domestica. 
Eastern House Wren, Short-tailed House Wren, Wood Wren. 
Read, Proc. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., VI, 1853, 396. 
The House Wren, once a common summer resident in all 
parts of the state, is now being forced out by the invasion 
of Bewick Wren. It does not appear to be increasing in 
those parts of the state not yet covered by the last species, 
but is holding its own there. I have been disappointed in not 
finding more House Wrens about the houses. The woods 
are much more preferred in Ohio than in the central parts 
of Iowa. In certain parts of every town this wren may be 
found, but it is not present everywhere that a place offers. 
The food consists almost wholly of insects that harm 
fruit-trees. It has lately been discovered that if a pair of 
House Wrens are driven from a box or other nesting- 
place which they have selected, and are permitted to nest 
in the vicinity, they will destroy the eggs of any birds which 
may nest in that place desired by them but denied them. 
One would not suppose vindictivenesss to be a vice of Jenny 
Wren. 
The House Wrens appear in southern Ohio about the 
middle of April, and a week later at Oberlin. They return 
south about October 1. 
