PASSERES TROGLODYTID^E. 199 



if not quite to our northern border as far east as Oberlin, 

 where it has twice been recorded within the last five years. 

 It is gradually but surely replacing- the House Wren in the 

 southern counties, possibly because it is the resident form 

 while the House Wren migrates. It is common now as far 

 east as Scioto county, and nearly as far north as Columbus. 

 The food of this wren does not differ materially from that 

 of the Carolina Wren. It is distinctly beneficial in its food 

 habits. 



280. (721.) TROGLODYTES AEDON Vieill. 23. 

 House Wren. 



Synonyms: Trogoldytes domesticus, Motacilla domestica. 



Eastern House Wren, Short-tailed House Wren, Wood Wren. 

 Read, Proc. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., VI, 1853, 396. 



The House Wren, once a common summer resident in all 

 parts of the state, is now being forced out by the invasion 

 of Bewick Wren. It does not appear to be increasing in 

 those parts of the state not yet covered by the last species, 

 but is holding its own there. I have been disappointed in not 

 finding more House Wrens about the houses. The woods 

 are much more preferred in Ohio than in the central parts 

 of Iowa. In certain parts of every town this wren may be 

 found, but it is not present everywhere that a place offers. 



The food consists almost wholly of insects that harm 

 fruit-trees. It has lately been discovered that if a pair of 

 House Wrens are driven from a box or other nesting- 

 place which they have selected, and are permitted to nest 

 in the vicinity, they will destroy the eggs of any birds which 

 may nest in that place desired by them but denied them. 

 One would not suppose vindictivenesss to be a vice of Jenny 

 Wren. 



The House Wrens appear in southern Ohio about the 

 middle of April, and a w r eek later at Oberlin. They return 

 south about October 1. 





