MARSH-WRENS. 93 



simply the inconvenience of a lower temperature to 

 contend against, if it really is an inconvenience. We 

 are too apt to measure the efiEects of frost by what is 

 seen in our gardens among cultivated vegetables and 

 flowers, which is no criterion whatever. The occurrence 

 of a drought — an irregularity in nature, from which it 

 has not yet evolved self-protection — is far more disas- 

 trous to the comfort of birds, and influences their move- 

 ments more than cool evenings, shortened days, and the 

 oarly frosts of autumn. The contemplative rambler, as 

 much as the farmer, has cause to dread a midsummer 

 drought. 



Be it April or May, sooner or later, the marsh-wrens 

 will be with us, and their many curious habits are well 

 worthy of even closer study than they have as yet re- 

 ceived. Speaking now exclusively of the more abun- 

 dant species, the long-billed wren, it may be stated at 

 the outset that they are not shy, but have not that fear- 

 lessness characteristic of the upland species. Still they 

 will resent interference, sometimes, and express their dis- 

 pleasure with all that impetuosity so very generally dis- 

 played by the house-wrens of our dooryards. Let us 

 consider, now, two prominent features of this abundant 

 species, its song and its nest. 



Wilson remarks of the notes of the long-billed marsh- 

 wren, " it would be mere burlesque to call tbem by the 

 name of song. Standing on the reedy borders of . . . 

 the Delaware, in the month of June, you hear a low, 

 crackling sound, something similar to that produced by 

 air bubbles forcing their way through mud or boggy 

 ground when trod upon ; this is the song of the marsh- 



