BIRDS 'OF PENNSYLVANIA. 307 



T. M. Brewer, writing- of this Thrush, says: "I found a nest contain- 

 ing- three eggs, which I removed, leaving- in their place three Robin's 

 eggs, and retired to wait the issue. In a few moments the female ap- 

 proached, gave the contents of the nest a hasty survey, and immediately 

 flew off. She returned in a short time in company with her mate, and 

 both flew to the nest apparently in the greatest rage, took each an egg- 

 in their claws, and dashed it against the ground at a distance of more 

 than a rod from the nest, the female repeating the same to the other 

 egg. This done, they continued for some time to vent their rage on the 

 broken eggs, tossing them about, and at the same time manifesting 

 their displeasure in every possible way. They afterwards forsook the 

 nest." 



SUBFAMILY TROGLODYTES. WRENS. 

 THE WRENS. 



Thirteen species, also " six geographical forms " and one "local race" of this sub- 

 family are recorded in the fauna of the United States. Of these twenty species and 

 varieties, but six species are found in Pennsylvania. The House Wren, Bewick's 

 Wren, also the Marsh Wrens are found here only as summer residents. The Caro- 

 lina Wren is most abundant in the summer; though commonly during mild win- 

 ters individuals of this species are seen in the southern parts of the state. The Win- 

 ter Wren breeds sparingly in the more northern and mountainous portions of this 

 commonwealth, and during the winter months is very generally distributed through- 

 out the lower third of the state. Wrens are plainly attired, different shades of 

 brown being the prevailing color. These small, musical, active and quarrelsome 

 birds are usually seen with the tail erect. They hide in thickets, weeds and grasses, 

 holes in trees or rocks, also in boxes, and manifest "a fondness for prying into holes 

 and dark places." Wrens are notorious for their scolding propensity, and in this 

 particular they are not unlike some females of the human race, whose chief object 

 in life it would appear is to always annoy those about them. In writing of these 

 birds, Dr. Coues says: " They are sprightly, fearless and impudent little creatures, 

 apt to show bad temper when they fancy themselves aggrieved by cats or people, or 

 anything else that is big and unpleasant to them." Marsh Wrens, as the name 

 would indicate, inhabit marshes or swampy places along rivers ; they reside also in 

 rank vegetation in sloughs and ponds. Long-billed Marsh Wrens often nest 

 together in colonies, and construct globular nests, with small openings in the sides. 

 These nests, suspended in herbage, are usually about a foot or eighteen inches above 

 the water. When erecting these swaying houses, composed of coarse grass blades, 

 dead leaves, lined with feathers or soft vegetable materials, the little builders are 

 careful to fix them firmly to the strong coarse grasses or stems and leaves of plants 

 which grow high above the water. Their eggs, six and sometimes ten in number, 

 are a uniform chocolate-brown color. The Short-billed Marsh Wren is said to build 

 a nest similar to that of the Long-billed species, but its eggs differ from those of all 

 other of our wrens, in being white and unspotted. The other of our native wrens 

 nest in holes of trees, hollow fence rails, or in logs and stumps, in shrubbery, boxes 

 and '-various odd nooks and corners" about buildings. Their eggs are white, spot- 

 ted or blotched with different shades of brown. The eggs of the largest species 



Carolina Wren measure about .75 of an inch long and about .60 wide ; those of 

 other wrens are smaller, being about .68 long by .50 wide. The wrens feed entirely 

 on an insect diet 



