54 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 



having ever been discovered. They are probably like those of 

 allied British species, and of the Golden-crowned "Wren" 

 (B, b). 



(c). The little Ruby-crowned " Wrens," almost the smallest 

 of North American birds, with the exception of the humming- 

 birds, habitually pass the summer in the countries, which lie to 

 the northward of New England. 11 They reach the neighbor- 

 hood of Boston, when traveling from the North, in the first or 

 second week of October, and are quite common throughout 

 that month, a few lingering until the middle of November, and 

 still fewer occasionally passing the winter here. In autumn, 

 regardless of the cold frosts, they always seem to be happily 

 employed, either in pairs or singly, in ransacking trees in 

 woods or orchards and elsewhere, for the small insects and 

 eggs, which lie concealed beneath the bark, and in its crevices. 

 They can but rarely be detected here in winter, since they com- 

 monly spend that season in the indefinite " South." In spring 

 they generally return to us about the middle of April, and are 

 very common until the middle of May or earlier, when they 

 totally disappear. They may be found in orchards or wood- 

 land, and about cultivated estates, everywhere leading the 

 same busy, restless life, which they never for a moment for- 

 sake, while daylight lasts. They may be seen now clinging 

 to some cluster of opening leaves or budding flowers, perhaps 

 head downwards, now hopping to a neighboring twig, now fly- 

 ing into the air to dexterously seize a passing insect, then 

 calling to their mates if they be near, or uttering their sweet 

 and joyous song. Though not gregarious, they are of a soci- 

 able disposition toward other birds, and in fall often associate 

 with Chickadees, nuthatches, creepers, " Gold-crests," and 

 Downy Woodpeckers, and in spring with various migrating 

 warblers, if there be any to join, whose habits are at 'all like 



11 Wilson, however, says : " From the circumstance of having found them here 

 in summer, I am persuaded that they occasionally breed in Pennsylvania." Mr. 

 Charles C. Abbott, in speaking of their breeding in New Jersey, says that " at least 

 we have as evidence of this their presence in June, and also that of their young 

 in August." 



