78 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 



of a light warm brown. Wings and tail barred. Like C. 

 palustris above, but streaked with white on the back, nape, and 

 rump. 



(6). The nest is essentially like that of the next species; 

 but, no mud is used in its composition, it is generally placed 

 in fresh-water marshes or meadows (being sometimes built in 

 long grass), and the hole is usually on the under side. The 

 eggs are generally six, sometimes more, very frail, white, and 

 about -55 X "43 of an inch. The first and commonly the only 

 set is laid, in Eastern Massachusetts, in the early part of June. 



(c). I must confess to not being so very familiar with the 

 Meadow Wrens as I should like to be before writing their Nat- 

 ural History, for in the southern parts of New England they 

 are very generally rare, and in the northern parts are not to be 

 found at all. They come to Eastern Massachusetts about the 

 middle of May, and inhabit the fresh-water marshes and mead- 

 ows, in certain localities, until the latter part of August, when 

 they retire to the South. On their arrival, they busy themselves 

 in building their peculiar nests, and it has been observed that 

 they generally build several near together, every year, perhaps 

 for the sake of protection. They are generally occupied in 

 hunting for insects among reeds, rushes, or tall grass, but it is 

 not easy to assure one's self of this fact, since they are shy, 

 and, to use a sportsman's expression, "lie very close." They 

 can also creep about and through the reeds as silently and 

 actively as a mouse. 



(d). The Meadow Wrens have a harsh unpleasant chatter, 

 but also a simple and yet very pleasant song, which reminds 

 one of the songs of certain sparrows, though often character- 

 ized by a peculiar wren-trill. 



(B) pALUSTRis. 22 Marsh Wren. Long-billed Marsh Wren. 



(Less common in Massachusetts than the preceding species.) 



(a). 5-5^- inches long. Above, brown. Below, white ; sides 



shaded with brown. Tail dusky-barred. Wings and under 



22 By some authors placed in the genus Telmatodytes (considered by Baird a 

 subgenusj. 



