Vol i907" IV ] Howell and Oldys, The Bewick Wren. 149 



THE BEWICK WREN IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUM- 

 BIA, WITH A DESCRIPTION OF ITS SONG. 



BY ARTHUR H. HOWELL AND HENRY OLDYS. 



The Bewick Wren (Thryomanes bewicki) has for some years 

 been known as a rare visitant in the District of Columbia, occur- 

 ring mainly during the spring migration (April). Since Mr. 

 Ridgway's published records of its occurrence here 1 it has been 

 noted a number of times by various observers, and during the 

 seasons of 1905 and 1906 we secured evidence of its probable 

 breeding within our limits. 



A single bird was observed at Petworth (a suburb of Washington) 

 on April 29, 1905, our attention having been called to its song by 

 Mrs. Arthur Brown, who said the bird had been living in the near 

 vicinity of her house for several weeks. It was noted by her many 

 times during the spring of 1905, but disappeared in July to reap- 

 pear, however, in April of the following year. On June 2, 1906, 

 we visited the locality and spent several hours watching the wren 

 and listening to its varied and attractive song. The bird was 

 restless and very active, choosing usually for its perches some 

 high and exposed situation, such as the pinnacle of a roof or cupola, 

 or a dead branch on some large tree. After singing for a short 

 time from one of its perches it would fly to another some distance 

 away, and at once sing again, but it remained constantly within 

 an area of not more than four or five acres. Its beat included 

 several suburban streets and a number of houses, but was sur- 

 rounded on three sides by open fields and woodland. 



We heard the bird again later in the month (June) but at no 

 time did we find a nest or even a mate — if it had one. Following 

 is a list of all the records of this species in the vicinity of Washing- 

 ton that we have been able to secure, most of them kindly fur- 

 nished by Dr. Charles W. Richmond: — 



April 10, 1882. Arlington, Virginia. Specimen taken by Wm. Palmer. 



April 6, 1883 " " " " " " " 



April 8, 1888. Washington, D. C. " " " M. M. Green. 



April 22, 1888. " " One seen by 



1 Auk, IX, 1902, p. 307. 



