56 LONG-BILLED MARSH WREN 



an inch in diameter large enough for the Wrens 

 and too small for English Sparrows. Whatever is 

 given them they will first nearly fill with twigs, and 

 upon them build the nest. They also nest in hollow 

 fence-posts or rails, in cavities in stumps and trees, 

 and sometimes in most surprising places, such as an 

 old hat or boot, the sleeve or pocket of a coat, or 

 perhaps in the gourd-shaped mud nest of the Eave 

 Swallow. One pair built in a teakettle, carrying twigs 

 and other material in through the spout, and at the 

 home of Mr. Ridgway they built in a clothes-pin bag 

 left hanging outside, the hole made by the drawing- 

 string being just the right size. They doubtless 

 thought that the pins in the bottom of the bag had 

 been kindly left there to lesseru their labors. 



House Wrens, if undisturbed, will return to the 

 same place year after year. Two broods are raised 

 in a season, and the pinkish eggs, 6 to 9, are thickly 

 speckled with brown. These Wrens have a gushing, 

 rippling little song, given with great animation and 

 persistency. 



Long-billed Marsh Wren: Cistothorus palnstris. 



Length about 5 inches. 



Upper parts dark brown, streaked ^on the back with black 

 and white. 



Under parts pure white; brown along the sides. 



Wings and tail barred with black; a white line over the eye; 

 long bill. 



Resident (abundant) from April 30 to October 30; winters 

 in the Gulf States and Mexico. 



Down on the Potomac marshes below Analostan 

 Island, and also on the Eastern Branch near Ben- 

 ning's Bridge, Marsh Wrens may be found, and they 



