\VKI:N>. i 333 



fallen trees. In tin- shadow of the woods it is easy to orerlook the 

 small dark bird creeping under a logor clamlx-ring over an old stump. 

 Hut often, when MM m;; alone in the deserted patch, my heart has been 

 warmed liy tin- Midden it|>|iarilin <>f tin- plump little Wren atilt of a 

 dry golden-rod stalk do** U -nl. mi*, his tail standing straight over 

 his back ami hi- head r. k.-| <>n ,.n,- -ni,-. Ho would bow to mo with 

 * dn>ll bobbin-; miitimi, l>ut hi-; hearty yui'/*-yw/i/* and t ht- frank ItM.k 

 of intcre-t in his bright eyes showed that he was quite ready to make 

 friend-. Many a dull morning has been gladdened by such an en- 

 counter. 



IVrhaps my choicest memories, however, are of a Wren who left 

 his usual homo in the dark coniferous forest for our brighter wood- 

 land- <if maple and l>ee<-h. || ( > built his nest in an upturned root on 

 the e<lge of a l>it of marshy hind, helping himself to some feathers the 

 Scarlet Tanager had left at his bath in the swamp behind. 



1 had never before had a chance to listen to his famous song, and 

 it was the event of the summer in the woods. Full of trills, runs, and 

 grace notes, it was a tinkling, rippling roundelay. It made me think 

 of the song of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet, the volume and ringing 

 quality of both being startling from birds of their si/e. Hut while 

 the Kinglet's may be less hampered by considerations of tune, the 

 Wren's song has a more appealing human character. It is like the bird 

 himself. The dark swamps are made glad by the joyous, wonderful 

 song. FLORENCE A. MKKRUM. 



724. Cistothorus stellar!*) (Licht.). SHORT- BILLED MARHII WRIN. 



Ad. Kutire u]'|H-r parts streaked with white, blac'k, and ochraceoua-buff ; 

 wing* and tail barred ; under part* white, washed 

 with ochraceouit-butf on the breast, Hides, und 

 under tail e-.verto. L., 4-00; W., 1'75; T., 1'41 ; 



Kanyt. Eautern N->rth America; breedaaa Tar 

 north an Manitoba and Mastutchum-tU; winters 

 tnun the <;ult' States southward. 



Washington, very ran- T. V., two instance*. Fio. lll.-Rhort billed 



Marah Wren (Satu- 

 May. Sing Sing, rare s. K.. t<> .-t. 10. Cam- ral sir*- ) 



bridge, lix-nlly e>mm<>n S. I: . M ; ,\ i:. t< < )et. 1. 



Nut, globular, the entrance <>n one o'tde, of gnuweit, lined with plant down, 

 on or near the ground, in a tus.-ek <>f tall gram. Egg*, six tu ei k 'ht, pun- 

 white, rarely with a Tew lavender upot*, '62 x -47. 



Tlii- bustling, energetic little creature will much more often be 

 heard than seen. Its ordinary call-note, like the sound of two pebbles 

 strm-k together, may be heard in a dozen directions for a quarter of 

 an hour before one of the birds c.unes in view, so careful are they to 

 keep concealed among the protecting sedge. The ordinary song of 



