52 LAND-BIRDS. 



ble 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 

 their own. They are not usually shy or suspicious, but are so 

 engrossed in their important occupations that they are easily 

 approached, and are not disturbed when closely watched. 

 They have but little time to think of danger, and continue 

 their career of constant activity (interrupted only by darkness 

 and incubation), apparently regarding all living things as 

 creatures innocent as they themselves. 



d. In autumn and winter their only note is a feeble lisp. 

 In spring, besides occasionally uttering an indescribable queru- 

 lous sound, and a harsh " grating " note, which belongs exclu- 

 sively to that season,* the Ruby-crowned " Wrens " sing ex- 

 tremely well, and louder than such small birds seem capable 

 of singing. Their song commonly begins with a few clear 

 whistles, followed by a short, very sweet, and complicated 

 warble, and ending with notes like the syllables tu-we-we, tu-we- 

 we, tvswe^we. These latter are often repeated separately, as if 

 the birds had no time for the prelude, or are sometimes merely 

 prefaced by a few rather shrill notes with a rising inflection. 



It is astonishing, under existing circumstances, that neither 

 nest nor egg of the Ruby-crowned " Wrens " has been dis- 

 covered, or at least described. It is probable, and on their 

 account it is to be hoped, that they may long continue to 

 rear their young in happiness and peace, undisturbed by nat- 

 uralists, in the immense forests of the north. 



B. SATRAPA. Golderwrowned " Wren" Golden- 

 crowned " Kinglet" " Gold-crest" Moderately common 

 from October until April or May. f 



* The harsh, grating notes, as well Hampshire. Breeds throughout the 



as the song, are occasionally heard in spruce forests of northern New England 



autumn. W. B. and in the higher port ions of Berkshire 



Everywhere common during the and Worcester counties, Massachu- 



migrations, and always present in win- setts. A single well-authenticated nest 



ter in moderate numbers, at least as has been taken at Lynn, Massachusetts, 



far north as southern Maine and New W. B. 



