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The Winter Wren is an active bird and fond of keeping among 



the low bushes, or running along the stone walls ; when surprised, 

 it disappears in the small openings in the same manner as a mouse. 

 It also frequents the borders of creeks, visits the farmer's door-yard, 

 searches the brush-pile, and is sometimes seen in the gardens of the 

 city mounted on a dry stalk, uttering a sprightly and agreeable song. 

 In the month of October this species arrives among us from the 

 North and remains until early in the spring. 



TROGLODYTES ^DON— VIEILL, 



HOUSE WREN. 



House Wren, Sylvia domestica, Wils. Amer. Orri. 



Troglodytes aedon, Bonap. Syn. 



House Wren, Nutt. Man. 



Troglodytes aedon, House Wren, Sw. & Rich. 



House Wren, Troglodytes aedon, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — Bill, along the gap, ten-sixteenths of an inch ; 

 length of tail one and one quarter. Adult with the tipper parts dark 

 reddish-brown, faintly barred with dusky ; head dull brown, marked 

 Avith dusky ; upper tail coverts brighter ; wings and tail brown, 

 tinged with reddish-brown arid distinctly barred with brownish-black; 

 lower tail coverts barred with dusky. Length four inches and a 

 half, wing two. 



This well known bird arrives among us about the middle of May, 

 and during its stay throughout the summer months is seen in all 

 our gardens, collecting insects, on which it feeds. The sprightly 

 song of this familiar species is also heard in the pleasure grounds 

 of cities, and to compensate it for the valuable service rendered in 

 removing the insects that infest the blossoms, it is not unusual 

 for the proprietors to provide for it a comfortable dwelling in 

 which to rear its brood. The eggs are from five to seven, of a red- 

 dish flesh color, finely dotted with a rather deeper tint. Two 

 broods are raised in a season. In the latter part of September it 

 migrates southward. 

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