loG NOUTll AMKIilCAX JilKUS. 



tu \te iiurtheru in its distrilMitinii (liiiiii«' the brei'diim-soason, v^ot only Ji 

 siiij^le sjKiciineii was olaaiiUMl l>y Sir .lohii liieliardson, and tliat on the 

 n(Hthein shures of Like llunui. 



On tlie I'aritic eoast I)r. Coojht re«^arde<l tlie Winter Wren as the most 

 common sjjeeies in the forests of Washin,i::ton Territory, where it frequented 

 even the densest jMjrticjns, and wliere its lively son<,' was alnuKst the oidy 

 sound to be heard. It was most commonly seen in winter, retirim: in sum- 

 mer to the mountains to l)reed. He observed young birds on the Coast 

 Mountains in July. 



Dr. Suekley also states that this Wren was f<»und at Fort Steilacoom more 

 almndantly in the winter than any other sjuicies. It was very unsuspicious, 

 allowing a very near approach. The dense fir forests, among fallen logs, 

 were its usual places of resort during the long, damp, and dreary winters 

 of Oregon. J)r. Suekley regarded the habits of this species and those of 

 the Parknian Wren as nearly identical. Mr. liischotl" obtained lour sjieci- 

 mens in Sitka. 



Mr. Audubon found this species at Eiistport, on the 9th of May, in full 

 song and (juite abundant. A niontli later he found them e(iually ])lentiful 

 in the Magdalen Islands, and afterwards, aljout the middle of July, in Lai)- 

 rador. He described its song as ex(ellin<» that of anv bird of its size with 

 which he was acipiainted, being full of cadence, energy, and melody, and as 

 truly musical. Its jxjwer of ontinuance is saiil to be very surprising. 



The characteristics of the Winter Wren are those of the whole family. 

 They moves with rapidity and juecision from place to place, in short, sudden 

 liojjs and tlights, bending downward and keej)ing their tails erect. They 

 will run under a large root, through a hollow stum]) or log, or between the 

 interstices of rocks, more in the manner of a mouse than of a bird. 



The writer lias several times <>l)served these Wrens on the steep sides of 

 Blount Washington, in the month of June, moving about in active unrest, 

 disapi)earing and reap]>earing among the broken masses of granite with 

 which these sloi)es are strewn. This was even in the most thickly wooded 

 portions. Thougli they evidently had nests in the neighborhood, they couhl 

 not be discovered. They were unsus]>icious, could be ai)proached within a 

 few feet, but uttered (querulous com])laints if one persisted in searching too 

 long in the places they entered. 



This Wren, as I am informed by Mr. P>oardman, is a c«)mmon summer resi- 

 dent near Calais, Me. 



Mr. Audubon met with its nest in a thick forest in Pennsylvania. He 

 followed a j>air of these birds until tliey disappeared in the hollow of a protu- 

 berance, covered with moss and lichens, resembling the excrescences often 

 seen on forest trees. The aperture was ])erfectly nmnded and (piite smooth. 

 He put in his finger and felt the pecking of the bird's bill and heard its 

 querulous cry. He was obliged to remove the parent bird in order to see the 

 eggs, which were six in nund»er. The parent birds made a great clamor as 



