382 THRASHERS, WRENS, ETC. 



It has been claimed that the name House Wren is a misnomer, be- 

 cause in the south during the winter these birds are found in the for- 

 ests miles from the nearest habitation. This, however, is owing to 

 circumstances over which the House Wren has no control. He is just 

 as much of a House Wren in the south as he is in the north ; you will 

 find a pair in possession of every suitable dwelling. The difficulty is 

 that in the winter there are more House Wrens than there are houses, 

 and, being of a somewhat irritable disposition, the House Wren will 

 not share his quarters with others of his kind. Late comers, there- 

 fore, who can not get a snug nook about a house or outbuilding, are 

 forced to resort to the woods. 



In the summer, when they are spread over a much greater area, 

 House Wrens are very particular in their choice of haunts, and for 

 this reason are locally distributed. Having selected a nesting site, 

 they become much attached to it, and return to the same place year 

 after year. It may be a bird-box, a crevice in a building, a hollow in 

 an apple tree, or hole in a fence rail ; wherever it is, it is theirs, and 

 they will fight for it against all comers. 



The song of the House Wren is delivered with characteristic en- 

 ergy a sudden outpouring of music which completely dominates the 

 singer, who with raised head and drooped tail trembles with the vio- 

 lence of his effort. 



72 Jb. T. a. aztecus (Baird). WESTERN HOUSE WREN. Similar to 

 the preceding, but upper parts lighter and less rufous, the back and rump 

 generally distinctly barred with blackish. 



Range. Interior of North America, east to the Mississippi Valley ; Min- 

 nesota, Illinois. 



722. Troglodytes hiemalis Vieill. WINTER WREN. Ad. Upper 

 parts dark cinnamon-brown; feathers of the rump with concealed, downy 

 white spots ; wings and tail barred ; under parts washed with pale cinnamon- 

 brown, the lower breast, sides, and belly more or less heavily barred with 

 black. L., 4-06 ; W., 1-89 ; T., 1-24; B., -86. 



Range. Eastern North America; breeds from the Northern States north- 

 ward, and southward along the Alleghanies to North Carolina; winters from 

 Massachusetts and Illinois to Florida. 



Washington, rather common W. V., Sept. 25 to May 1. Sing Sing, tolera- 

 bly common W. V., Sept. 18 to A pi. -27. Cambridge, T. V., rather common, 

 Sept. 20 to Nov. 25 ; rare^ Apl. 10 to May 1 : a very few winter. 



Nest, of small twigs and moss, lined with feathers, in the roots of a tree, 

 brush-heap, or similar place. " Eggs, five to seven, white or creamy white, 

 finely but rather sparingly speckled with reddish brown, sometimes nearly 

 immaculate, -69 x -50" (Ridgw.). 



When looking for a Winter Wren during the fall migration I go 

 to an old raspberry patch, and in the woods watch the stumps and 



