THE BIRDS OF NEW JERSEY. 299 



Rare straggler from the south. 



Mentioned in Beesley's Cape May list (1857), and given by Turn- 

 bull as rare. Dr. C. C. Abbott, in his list of New Jersey birds (1868), 

 says: "Rare; more abundant some seasons than others." In 1876 1 

 he emphasizes this statement, saying: "I have not failed to find a 

 considerable number of them for several years past; they return year 

 after year." But in 1884 2 he says a few pairs occurred some years 

 ago, and in 1895 3 refers to it only as "a western species." 



The only other record that I know of is one bird seen at Haddon- 

 field bv Mr. S. N. Rhoads in 1890. 



721 Troglodytes aedon (Vieillot). 

 House Wren. 



PLATE 78. 



Adults. Length, 4. Wing, 2. Above, brown, becoming rufescent on the 

 rump ; tail and wings and sometimes the back, barred with black ; below, dull 

 white, washed with russet on the flanks and slightly buffy on the breast ; flanks 

 and under tail-coverts barred with black ; a pale line over the eye and large, 

 round, white concealed spots on the base of the upper tail-coverts. 



Young in first summer. Similar, but darker below and mottled from chin to 

 abdomen with dusky edgings to the feathers. 



Nest in bird boxes, old Woodpeckers' holes, etc., made of twigs, lined with 

 feathers, grass, etc. ; eggs, six to eight, vinaceous, minutely speckled with 

 darker, .65 x .52. 



Common summer resident. Arrives April 21st (April 27th), de- 

 parts October 5th. 



The House Wren is one of our familiar home birds, but one which 

 seems to have become less common of late years, in some sections at 

 least. 



Its cheerful warble used to be heard from every garden, but now, 

 from the persecution of English Sparrows or from some other cause, 

 it is only a migrant in certain localities. In autumn the House Wren 

 takes to the fence rows and edges of woodland. Mr. S. N. Rhoads 

 saw one bird, at Haddonfield, close at hand, early in February, 1909, 

 which had evidently wintered in a lumber yard. 



1 Amer. Nat., 1S76, p. 237. 



' Naturalists' Rambles about Home. 



3 Birds about Us. 



