WRENS. 



song, it celebrates the name of a familiar kitchen utensil an 

 indefinite number of times: 



Jlllegro. Twice 



,n i A if \if\jf\ if, 



J Ue fa-kettle. ffa-M/f. 7e<t-Mtle r ete. 



The following record of Dr. Henry Oldys is remarkably 

 similar : 



J Cheerily, cheerily, cheerily, etc. 



eerily, 



3r.tfe.nry Oldys' record 



This is the commoner form, one which I constantly 

 heard in May, 1909, near Rowlesburg, West Virginia. It is 

 also common with the few Wrens of this species at the foot 

 of the Palisades in the vicinity of Englewood, N. J. An- 

 other not unusual song is distinctly two-syllabled, though 

 there is no avoiding the impression one gets of the grace 

 note and strong accent on the first syllable: 



"Thrice 8yd 



~ry t Cheery, cheery, cheery, cheery, cheery, cheery, cheery, 



The bird's musical performance is always strenuous 

 and emphatic, and the movements before and after it are 

 hurried to the point of nervous agitation. Like the Red- 

 eyed Vireo the Carolina Wren is an unremitting and tire- 

 less singer who is sure to be heard if he is anywhere near 

 you. Dodging in and out among the brushwood, his tail 

 flipping about like the baton of a band conductor, stopping 

 a moment to carol a cheery, cheery, cheery, or else a tea- 

 kettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle, etc., you gather the impression he 

 is out after guests for some social function ! In the South he 

 is known as the Mocking Wren, but there is no other reason 

 for this beyond the fact that some of his notes closely 

 resemble those of the Tufted Tit-mouse and the Cardinal. 

 217 



