74 PERCHERS AND SINGERS 



THE WRENS AND CATBIRDS 



Troglodytidae 



In some respects, the wrens are but a short step from 

 the tree-creepers, but in others they are widely apart. For 

 its size the HOUSE WREN 1 is the most pert and saucy bird in 

 North America. Forty years ago a pair of these merry little 

 sprites took up their abode in the wild fastnesses of the 

 grape arbor that sheltered our well; and I can hear their 

 shrill chatter yet. It was like the piping of a piccolo. For 

 eight years they and their children and grandchildren pos- 

 sessed the outskirts of our dwelling, and it was a great day 

 when we discovered a beautiful, feather-lined nest, nearly 

 six inches deep, that the Wrens had built in an old-fashioned 

 lantern that hung in the wood-house. I wish it were possible 

 to have Wrens around a city dwelling, or in a Zoological 

 Park. 



A Wren is known by the way it carries its tail, so very 

 straight up in the air that sometimes it tilts forward. The 

 House Wren is the most sociable of all our wild birds, and also 

 the one most confident of its place in the hearts of its coun- 

 trymen. I never knew of a Wren being killed by any one 

 save a collector of bird-skins. As for myself, I would go 

 Wrenless forever rather than take the life of a creature so 

 winsome and trustful. Even the cats of our household used 

 to respect the family Wrens. In the country, where there 

 are no English sparrows, it is easy to attract these interesting 

 birds by putting up nesting-boxes for them. Five species 



1 Tro-glo-dy'tes ae'don. Length, 4.75 to 5.25 inches. 



