THE PERCHING BIRDS. 43 



and again I have been assured that the wrens are 

 here all winter, " only they don't sing," being usually 

 added. This misconception arises from the fact that 

 at about the time the summer bird leaves us the Win- 

 ter-wren comes down from Canada and New England, 



House-wren. 



and stays with us until, according to some, the snow- 

 birds go home, and it goes with them. This winter- 

 wren is a superb singer, but practically mute in the 

 Middle States. Occasionally I have heard it warble 

 a few rich notes, but as a general thing the bird's 

 presence would only be known by being seen. Al- 

 most like a mouse it creeps about fences, out-build- 

 ings, and thick underbrush, uttering a sharp squeak 

 at times when startled. A favorite winter haunt, ac- 

 cording to my own observations, is about springs 

 where they are surrounded by dense sapling growths 

 and windrows of dead leaves. Among the latter it 

 will worm its way industriously, often overturning a 

 broad leaf of an oak to catch at any minute spider 

 or other form of life that may be lurking there. Oc- 

 casionally a severe winter makes them very bold, and 

 they enter the out-buildings and there hunt for spiders, 

 as does the house-wren in summer. 



