WRENS. 



generally built of fine twigs and lined with dried grasses or 

 other soft material, is commonly located in the hole of some 

 old apple tree or in the crannies or knot holes preferably of 

 an old house. Egg pale pinkish buff, brown-speckled or 

 usually with a wreath at the larger end. 



No song could be more spontaneous and rollicking than 

 that of the House Wren, though it lacks a distinct and full 

 tone, that defect is more than atoned for by irrepressible 

 spirit; beginning sotto voce with an inexplicable jumble of 

 unmusical grating sounds, it proceeds with a series of rapid 

 trills from a high to a considerably lower register without 

 pause or slackening of speed. Here are three records taken 

 -in different localities, Millington, N. J., Englewood, N. J., 

 and Blair, N. H., each in the order named: 



There is practically no difference in the rhythmic form, 

 no great variation in the pitch, and only slight variation in 

 melodic structure, as my notations very plainly show. 

 However, aside from musical form of the song it possesses 

 a rapturous abandon which at once captures the heart of 

 the listener just as his eyes would be entranced by the sight 

 of a beautiful cascade in a mountain glen. The jubilant 

 music drops like silvery spray; the songster should have 

 been named Minnehaha Laughing Water! 

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