PERCHING BIRDS 



721. HOUSE WREN. 



aedon. 



Troglodytes aedon. 



Range. North America east of the Missis- 

 sippi, breeding from the Gulf north to Mani- 

 toba and Ontario; winters in the southern half 

 of the United States. 



This familiar and noisy little Wren is the 

 most abundant and widely distributed of the 



Wrens; they are met with on 



the edges of woods, swamps, 



fields, pastures, orchards and 



very frequently build about 



houses, in bird houses or any 



nook that may suit them; they 



fill the cavity of the place they 

 may select with twigs, grass, feathers, plant 

 down, etc., and lay from five to nine eggs in a 

 set and frequently three sets a year. The eggs 

 are pinkish white, very profusely and minutely 

 dotted with pale reddish brown so as to make 

 the egg appear to be a nearly uniform salmon 

 color and with a wreath of darker spots about 

 the large end. Size .65 x .52. Data. Gretna, 

 N. Y., May 29? 1896. Nest three feet from the ground in cavity of an apple tree; 

 made of twigs and grass, and lined with hair and feathers. 



Pinkish white 



House Wren 



72 la. WESTERN HOUSE WREN. Troglodytes aedon parkmani. 



Range. United States, from the Mississippi Valley to eastern California. 

 This variety is grayer above and below than the eastern form, but its habits 

 and eggs do not differ in any respect. 



722. WINTER WREN. Nannus hiemalis hiemalis. 



Range. Eastern North America, breeding from northern United States north- 

 ward, and south in the Alleghanies to North Carolina; winters in the United 

 States. 



These are the smallest of the Wrens, being but four inches in 



length; they have a very short tail which, like those of the 



others, is carried erect over the back during excitement or 



anger. They are very sly birds and creep about through stone 



walls and under brush like so many mice; they have a sweet 



song but not as loud as that of the House Wren. Their nests 



are placed in crevices of stumps, walls, old buildings or in brush 



heaps, oeing made of twigs and leaves, lined with feathers. Their eggs, which 



are laid during May or June, are pure white, finely and sparingly dotted with 



reddish brown; size .60 x .48. 



427 



