Family Troglodytidce House Wren 61 



he is very local. He comes to the neighborhood 

 of Boston early in May, and leaves again in late 

 September. He frequents exclusively cultivated 

 grounds, gardens, and outbuildings, and has the 

 usual wren characteristics 



Sprightly, fearless, and impudent little creatures, apt 

 to show bad temper when they fancy themselves ag- 

 grieved by cats or people, or anything else that is big or 

 unpleasant to them ; they quarrel a good deal, and are 

 particularly spiteful towards martins and swallows, 

 whose homes they often invade and occupy. COUES. 



The nest is built in a bird-box, or hole, in the 

 neighborhood of an outhouse, often under the 

 eaves. Eggs are laid early in June, and there are 

 sometimes two sets. 



The song, according to Minot, " consists of a few 

 loud and sprightly notes, followed by a loud and 

 very characteristic trill, which is its most prominent 

 feature/' 



