THE WRENS 



15 



the search of larger birds. This bird, or some 

 of its sub-species, occupies the whole of the 

 United States north of the latitude of Wash- 

 ington and extends into Canada. 



In the eastern portion of the country the 

 best kno\vn and most widely distributed 

 species is the common black capped chickadee. 

 Fig. 3 shows a chickadee feeding from the 

 hand. 



THE WRENS. 



The diminutive house wren frequents barns 

 and gardens and particularly old orchards in 

 Avhich the trees are partially decayed. He 

 makes his nest in a hollow where perhaps a 

 woodpecker had a domicile the year before, 

 but he is a pugnacious character, and if he 

 happens to fancy one of the boxes put up for 

 bluebirds, he does not hesitate to take it. He 

 is usually not slow to avail himself of boxes, 



Fig. 4. 



gourds, tin cans, or empty jars placed for his 

 accommodation. 



The various species of wrens occupy more 

 or less the whole country from the Atlantic 

 to the Pacific. The wren is one of our most 



