46 



meat, and may be attracted to houses by suspending a scrap of pork 

 from the balcony. , 



Dimensions. Average measurements of eighteen specimens : length, 

 5-66; stretch, 7-98; wing, 2-56; tail, 2-65; culmen, -63; tarsus, -53. 



Family, TROGLODYTID^S. 



15. Troglodytes domesticus, Bartram. HOUSE WREN. A sum- 

 mer resident; abundant. Like the Bluebirds, they like to build in the 

 fruit cans that I have placed in appropriate places for their use. As 

 many as twelve pairs have nestled upon the place at once. Nothing 

 could present a greater contrast than the habits of these birds during 

 the breeding season and afterwards. Having successfully completed 

 the business of rearing several broods of young, they lose, simulta- 

 neously, their delicious song and the pert, saucy familiarity which 

 characterizes their actions during their stay in close proximity to 

 man ; retiring with their families to the remotest wastes, they spend 

 the residue of the season amongst the broken rocks, covered thickly 

 with bushes and matted vines, seldom appearing in view, but con- 

 stantly announcing their whereabouts by a sharply enunciated, seem- 

 ingly discontented or anxious chirp. 



These Wrens arrive from the South late in April (28, 1873 ; May 7, 

 1874; 6, 1875; April 29, 1876; May 9, 1877; April 30, 1878; 29, 1879), 

 and remain till the middle of October (16th, 1876). 



Dimensions. Average measurements of seven specimens : length, 

 5-00; stretch, 6-61; wing, 1-97; tail, 1-71; bill from nostril, -36; tar- 

 sus, -66. 



16. Anorthura troglodytes, var. hyemalis, (Wilson). WIN- 

 TER WREN. A winter resident; very abundant during its autumnal 

 migration; generally quite common all winter, but somewhat irregu- 

 lar; arrives the first of October (4, 1874; September 29, 1876; exceed- 

 ingly abundant October 8), and departs the last of April (27, 1874; 30, 

 1875; May 1, 1876). Mr. E. P. Bicknell informs me that he has ob- 

 served it, as far south as Riverdale, on May 4, 1877. 



These active, sprightly little birds are fond of searching amongst 

 broken rocks, brush-heaps, and rubbish generally; but it is their 

 greatest delight to run about under ice, after the water has settled 

 away ; creeping into every nook and crevice in search of food, they 

 sometimes remain out of sight for many minutes together. They are 

 often found on the marshes, amongst the cat-tails, and frequenting 

 the piles of debris that the tides have floated upon their edges ; here, 

 skulking out of sight, but close to the observer, and always emitting 

 a sharp chirp, they would exhaust the patience of the mildest collector 

 extant, who would shoot one for his cabinet. 



