208 



The Carolina Wren is the finest singer of the family. The song is not 

 continuous or long but it has a peculiar flute-like, liquid quality and is of 

 striking beauty. The species is rare in Canada and its song is heard either 

 regularly or occasionally only in a few localities. 



Economic Status. Too rare in Canada to have any perceptible 

 economic influence. 



719. Bewick's Wren. Thryomanes bewicki. L, 5. Similar to the House Wren but 

 whiter below and tail longer, larger, and distinctly greyish. It has a light eyebrow line. 



Distinctions. Characters given above will serve for the identification of the species. 



Field Marks. A House Wren with long tail and loud, sparrowlike song. 



Nesting. Nest similar to that of the House Wren. 



Distribution. Eastern United States not reaching the Canadian border except as a 

 straggler in southern Ontario. 



SUBSPECIES. The eastern Canada form is the Eastern Bewick's Wren, the type 

 race of the species. 



This Wren is only a rare visitor from the south and has seldom been 

 recorded from eastern Canada. It should only be recorded on the most 

 trustworthy evidence. 



Economic Status. Too rare a species in eastern Canada to be of 

 economic interest. 



721. House Wren. FR. LE TROGLODYTE ^DON. Troglodyte aedon. L, 5. 

 Plate XLV B. 



Distinctions. This is the commonest Wren of eastern Canada. The even wood- 

 brown back, throat and breast tinged with lighter brown; the almost white underparts; 

 and the barring confined to the flanks will separate it from other native wrens. 



Field Marks. The light underparts and longer tail will separate the House from the 

 Winter Wren, and the even brown colour of the back and its habitat, from either of the 

 Marsh Wrens. 



Nesting. In a hole in a tree, bird-box, or similar places, in a nest of twigs, lined with 

 grasses, feathers, etc. The House Wren will occupy any kind of a bird-house that is suitably 

 placed. The English Sparrow can be kept away by making the entrance hole small, a one- 

 inch auger hole is sufficient for a wren and will bar the sparrows entirely. 



Distribution. As a species, all United States and Canada north to the edges of settle- 

 ment. The eastern or type form, the Eastern House Wren, inhabits from the Great Lakes 

 eastward. 



SUBSPECIES. The House Wren is divided into eastern and western subspecies of 

 which the former, the Eastern House Wren, is the type. 



The House Wren is a most attractive bird about a garden; it steals 

 around, under, and over everything; not a crack nor a crevice in the fence 

 escapes its fine investigative bill and hardly a leaf stalk but at one time 

 or another is carefully examined for insects. It has been charged with 

 piercing and destroying the eggs of other species nesting in its immediate 

 vicinity and undoubtedly sometimes does so, but the damage done in this 

 way is probably an individual habit and perhaps not sufficient to warrant 

 the taking of any very drastic preventive measures against the species as 

 a whole. 



Economic Status. As the food of the House Wren consists almost if not 

 entirely of insects nothing can be said against it in that direction. Its small 

 size causes it to deal with minute insects that are beneath the notice of 

 larger birds and so it often controls pests before they are large enough to do 

 damage or be attractive to other birds. 



