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NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMOxNT. 



Part I. 



THE RUBV AND FUR Y-C ROWNED WRENS. 



THE HOUSE AND WINTER WRENS, 



THE RUBY-CROWNED WREN. 



Rcgulus calendidus. — Stephens. 



Description. — Color above olivaceous, 

 yelloiwisli on the rump and grayish on the 

 head, with a bright vermillion colored spot 

 on the hind head, which is partly con- 

 cealed by the dark feathers ; wings and 

 tail brownish black, with the outer edges 

 yellow; ning coverts terminated with 

 white, forming a whitish bar upon the 

 wings ; a yellowish white line around the 

 eye ; beneath, brownish white on the 

 neck, changing into yellowish white on 

 the belly ; upper inandibU> slightly curv- 

 ed near the tip ; legs, toes and nails long, 

 slender, and of a smoky brown color. 

 Length 4; sjiread 5J^. 



History. — The history of this little 

 sono'ster is very imperfectly known. It 

 is found during the winter, in considera- 

 ble numbers, in the southern states, and, 

 in the northern states, is frequently seen 

 in its migrations to the north and soutii, 

 in spring and fall. .Aiudubon has no doubt 

 but that it breeds in Labrador, but neith- 

 er he nor any other of our ornithologists 

 has succeeded in finding its nest. The 

 beautiful specimen from which the above 

 description was made, was killed in Bur- 

 lington on the 26th of April, 1842. 



THE FIERY-CROWNED WREN. 

 Rcgulus tricolor. — Nutt. 

 Regulus .<ialrapa.—\\ii\. Am. Oirds, If — 16.5, pi. 132. 

 Description. — Color above ash gray 

 on the neck, and the back yellowish 

 olive ; cheeks grayish white ; crown 

 flame colored, bordered with yellow and 

 black; beneath whitish, tinged with olive 

 gray ; bill slender and ratlier short ; bris- 

 tles at its base ; plumage loose and tufty ; 

 4th primary longest ; the first very short ; 

 legs rather long, tarsus slender. Length 

 4 ; spread 7. — Audubon. 



History. — This is an active little bird, 

 and is often seen in company with Ihe 

 creepers and titmice, searching for flies 

 and insects. It is put down by Dr. Brew- 

 er as breeding in this state. Audubon 

 found it rearing its young in Labrador. 



Genus Troglodytes. — Cuvicr, 



Generic Characters . — Bill slender, sub- 

 ti'ate, soniRwliat arched and (.loiigated, al?o acute, 

 compressed, and wi'.hoiit nomh ; mandibles equal. 

 Nostrils ba<al, oval, half closed by a menibram(?. 

 Tonoue slender, tlie tip divided into 2 or 3 small 

 bristles. Feel slender ; tarsus longer than the 

 middle tie : inner toe free; po-sterior wiih a lar- 

 ger nail than the rest. Wings short, con- 

 cave and rounded ; 3d, 4th, and oili primaries lon- 

 gest. 



THE HOUSE WREN. 

 Troglodytes adon. — Vieillot. 



Description. — Color above reddish- 

 brown, darkest on the head and neck, 

 lighter towards the rump, feathers mostly 

 barred witli dusky; beneath dull pale 

 gray, nearly white on the belly ; sides and 

 under tail coverts barred with brown ; a 

 yellowish line from the upper mandible 

 over the eye ; cheeks yellowish array, 

 spotted with brownish red ; bill dark 

 brown above, lighter beneath ; iris hazel ; 

 feet flesh color ; wings short, 3d and 4th 

 quills longest ; tail rather long. Length 

 4.^, spread 5^ 



History. — This familiar and interest- 

 ing little t)ird is common in all parts of 

 the United Stales, from April until the 

 beginning of October, when it retires to 

 the south : but the place where it winters 

 seems yet to remain unknown. The 

 House Wren is sprightly, active and dili- 

 gent, and has received its name in conse- 

 quence of its delighting to make its resi- 

 dence in our orchards, gardens, and about 

 our houses. Its nest is formed with coarse 

 sticks, shreds of bark, hair, &c., in som.e 

 natural or artificial cavity, such as a hol- 

 low stump, or post, or the vacant space at 

 the foot of a brace in the frame of a build- 

 ing, or a box provided fiar it by the gar- 

 dener. And whatever the cavity select- 

 ed, it seems to be its object to fill it with 

 sticks and other articles, leaving room 

 only for itself and young. The eggs, 

 from 6 to 8, are of a reddish flesh-color, 

 sprinkled with reddish-brown. Audubon 

 has represented this wren as feeding its 

 young in a nest constructed in an old hat. 

 The Wren manifests great antipathy to 

 the cat, and will scold her till she is out 

 of sight. 



THE WINTER WREN. 

 Troglodytes hyemalis. — Vieilt.ot. 

 Description. -Dark brown above, cross- 

 ed with transverse dusky touches, except 

 on the head and neck, which are plain; 

 the black spots on the back terminate in 

 minute points of dull white ; the same 

 colored points are seen on the first row of 



