WRENS. 



with it goes the equally. evident dual structure, the first 

 part in a low register, the rest sometimes a whole major 

 sixth or even an octave higher. 



The following record was secured in early July, 1914, 

 near Lonesome Lake which lies in the slight depression of 

 the southern buttress of Cannon Mountain in the Fran- 

 conia Notch. The elevation was about 3600 ft., and the 

 Winter Wrens were singing in every direction among the 

 spruces. 



The next notation came from a splendid singer in the 

 Notch, on the path up Mt. Lafayette: 



Presto. 



"Twice 8va. 



I had chanced a little before that time to be reading Brad- 

 ford Torrey's Birds in the Bush, and it was extremely 

 gratifying to find my bird singing very possibly the same 

 kind of song which Mr. Torrey heard, for, notice the sus- 

 tained tones in the middle of the record! On page 89 

 of that delightful little book is this: "The great distinction 

 of the Winter Wren's melody is its marked rhythm and 

 accent, which give it a martial, fife-like character. Note 

 tumbles over note in the true Wren manner, and the strain 

 comes to an end so suddenly that for the first few times 

 you are likely to think that the bird has been interrupted. 

 In the middle is a long in-drawn note like one of the 

 canary's." Although it is true this sustained note is not 

 unusual, it is by no means common, as the bird-song 

 ripples along like a free fantasia regardless of rules. 



The Winter Wren usually perches on a log, or the roots 

 or branches of a fallen tree when he sings, but I have fre- 

 quently discovered him on the uppermost boughs of a 

 221 



