WRENS 479 



rather sparingly speckled with reddish brown, sometimes nearly immaculate, 

 *69 x "50" (Ridgw.) . Date, Upton, Maine, June 11. 



When looking for a Winter Wren during the fall migration I go to 

 an old raspberry patch, and in the woods watch the stumps and fallen 

 trees. In the shadow of the woods it is easy to overlook the small dark 

 bird creeping under a log or clambering over an old stump. But often, 

 when sitting alone in the deserted patch, my heart has been warmed 

 by the sudden apparition of the plump little Wren atilt of a dry golden- 

 rod stalk close beside me, his tail standing straight over his back and 

 his head cocked on one side. He would bow to me with a droll bobbing 

 motion, but his hearty quip-quap and the frank look of interest in his 

 bright eyes showed that he was quite ready to make friends. Many 

 a dull morning has been gladdened by such an encounter. 



Perhaps my choicest memories, however, are of a Wren who loft 

 his usual home in the dark coniferous forest for our brighter woodlands 

 of maple and beech. He built his nest in an upturned root on the edge 

 of a bit of marshy land, helping himself to some feathers the Scarlet 

 Tanager had left at his bath in the swamp behind. 



I had never before had a chance to listen to his famous song, and 

 it was the event of the summer in the woods. Full of trills, runs, and 

 grace notes, it was a tinkling, rippling roundelay. It made me think 

 of the song of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet, the volume and ringing qual- 

 ity of both being startling from birds of their size. But while the King- 

 let's may be less hampered by considerations of tune, the Wren's song 

 has a more appealing human character. It is like the bird himself. The 

 dark swamps are made glad by the joyous, wonderful song. 



FLORENCE MERRIAM BAILEY. 



724. Cistothorus stellaris (Licht.). SHORT-BILLED MARSH WREN. 

 Ads. Entire upperparts streaked with white, black, and ochraceous-buff; 

 wings and tail barred; underparts unbarred, white; under tail-coverts, 

 flanks, and a more or less broken band across 

 breast ochraceous-buff. L.,4'00; W., 175; T., 1*41. 



Range. E. N. Am. Breeds in Transition and 

 Upper Austral zones from se. Sask., s. Keewatin, 

 s. Ont., and s. Maine, s. to e. Kans., cen. Mo., 

 con. Ind., and n. Del.; winters from s. Ills., and 

 s. N. J. to s. Tex., La., and Fla.; accidental in 

 Colo. 



Washington, very rare T. V., two instances, 

 May. Ossining, rare S. R., to Oct. 16. Cambridge, 

 formerly locally common S. R., May 12-Sept. 25; 

 now chiefly T. V. N. Ohio, rare, May 12, 14, 16 

 and 19. Glen Ellyn, fairly common S. R., May8-Oct. 17. SE. Minn., com- 

 mon S. R., May 13-Sept. 19. 



Nest, globular, the entrance on one side, of grasses, lined with plant- 

 down, on or near the ground, in a tussock of tall grass. Eggs, 6-8, pure 

 white, rarely with a few lavender spots, *62 x '47. Date, Cambridge, May 

 25. 



This bustling, energetic little creature will much more often be 

 heard than seen. Its ordinary call-note, like the sound of two pebbles 



