478 WRENS 



at the larger end, '65 x '51. Date, White Sulphur Springs, Va., Apl. 27; 

 D. C., May 1; Cambridge, May 25; se. Minn., May 19. 



It has been claimed that the name House Wren is a misnomer, 

 because in the South during the winter these birds are found in the for- 

 ests miles from the nearest habitation. This, however, is owing to 

 circumstances over which the House Wren has no control. He is just 

 as much of a House Wren in the south as he is in the north ; you will 

 find a pair in possession of every suitable dwelling. The difficulty is 

 that in the winter there are more House Wrens than there are houses, 

 and, being of a somewhat irritable disposition, the House Wren will not 

 share his quarters with others of his kind. Late comers, therefore, 

 who can not get a snug nook about a house or outbuilding, are forced 

 to resort to the woods. 



In the summer, when they' are spread over a much greater area, 

 House Wrens are very particular in their choice of haunts, and for 

 this reason are locally distributed. Having selected a nesting-site, they 

 become much attached to it, and return to the same place year after 

 year. It may be a bird-box, a crevice in a building, a hollow in an 

 apple tree, or hole in a fence rail ; wherever it is, it is theirs, and they will 

 fight for it against all comers. 



The song of the House Wren is delivered with characteristic energy 

 a sudden outpouring of music which completely dominates the singer, 

 who with raised head and drooped tail trembles with the violence of 

 his effort. 



1905. HERRICK, F. H., Home Life of Wild Birds, 38-44. 



72 la. T. ae. parkmani (Aud.}. WESTERN HOUSE WREN. Similar 

 to T. aedon aedon but grayer, bars above usually more distinct; black bars 

 of tail usually more or less margined posteriorly with grayish or buffy; 

 flanks less rusty. 



Range. W. N. Am. Breeds in lower Canadian and Transition zones 

 from s. B. C., n. Alberta, cen. Sask., and s. Man., s. to L. Calif., s. Ariz., 

 sw. Tex., s. Mo., and s. Ills.; winters from Calif, and Tex. southward to Mex. 



SE. Minn., common T. V., Apl. 26-Sept. 18. 



722. Nannus hiemalis hiemalis (Vieill). WINTER WREN. Ads. 

 Tail very short; a cinnamon-buff line over eye; upperparts dark, nearly 

 uniform cinnamon-brown; back indistinctly barred; feathers of the rump 

 with concealed, downy white spots; wings and tail barred; underparts cin- 

 namon-buff; flanks and belly heavily barred with black. L., 4*06; W., 1*89; 

 T., 1'24; B., '35. 



Range. E. N. Am. Breeds in Canadian zone from cen. Alberta, s. Man., 

 n. Ont., n. Que., and N. F., s. to cen. Minn., n. Wise., cen. Mich., and Mass., 

 and through the Alleghanies to N. C.; winters from about its s. breeding 

 limit to Tex. and n. Fla. 



Washington, rather common W. V., Aug. 10-May 1. Ossining, tolerably 

 common W. V., Sept. 18-Apl. 27. Cambridge, T. V., uncommon, Sept. 20- 

 Nov. 25; rare, Apl. 10-25; a very few winter. N. Ohio, tolerably common 

 W. V., Sept. 14-May 17. Glen Ellyn, fairly common, T. V., Apl. 1-May 10; 

 Sept. 9-Nov. 7. SE. Minn., common T. V., rare W. V., Sept. 22-Apl. 3. 



Nest, of small twigs and moss, lined with feathers, in the roots of a tree, 

 brush-heap, or similar place. "Eggs, 5-7, white or creamy white, finely but 



