40 TROGLODYTES HYEMALIS. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, built in holes of trees or in bird boxes. Composed of pieces of grape-vine bark, sticks and weeds which 

 usually completely fill the cavity in which it is placed, leaving a hole in the centre which is thickly lined with feathers 

 or fine strips of bark. Dimensions. The external diameter varies with the space which contains the nest ; one 

 which I have before me, that was collected for me by Mr. Iluthvcn Deaue, measures about four inches externally 

 and two internally. 



Eggs, usually rather oval in form, pinkish- white in color, thickly dotted with reddish-brown. These minute spots 

 sometimes become confluent and cover the entire surface with a deep washing of the same color. The larger ends 

 of such species are very apt to be darker than the remainder of the egg. I am indebted to Messrs. Deane and 

 Brewster for the privilege of examining the large series of eggs of this species which they have in their cabinets. 



HABITS. 



One can scarcely pass a thicket throughout the entire extent of Florida from Key West to the 

 northern limits of the state, whether on the borders of the hummock or in the vast pine barrens, 

 without exciting the ire of the irascible House Wrens. They will suddenly start up at the feet 

 of the pedestrian and, alighting on a log or bush, scold him angrily; but if the birds think they 

 are in danger, will quickly disappear, then it requires rapid and thorough beating to make them 

 rise. There are many thickets on the mainland which are so impenetrable that birds are 

 perfectly safe from intruders yet on the keys they are particularly favored in this respect, for 

 there the various species of cacti form an excellent cover for them. These plants are armed 

 with many long spines which present a formidable barrier against the invasion of man or any 

 large animal. Thus in Florida we find this Wren keeping apart from mankind and his ways, 

 but in New England they usually pursue a different course. Here they associate with human 

 beings, building their nests iu boxes erected for them, and even if these tiny edifices are placed 

 in close proximity to the busy thoroughfare the birds may be seen perched on their roofs, singing 

 their uncouth melodies. The House Wrens will occasionally select a hole in a tree as a breeding 

 place ; even in the North I observed a pair several times about an old apple tree, which stood in 

 a remote place and, being aware that they had a nest there, made repeated search for it ; but, 

 after vainly looking in every hole which I thought they could enter, gave up in despair. 

 But on passing the place one day I saw the female emerge from a very small orifice in a high 

 limb which was not larger around than my arm, and upon examining found the nest concealed 

 in it. The House Wrens breed in New England about the first week in June, iu Florida 

 somewhat earlier. They are constant residents in the South but migrants at the North, arriving 

 in the spring about the first of May and departing in early October. 



TROGLODYTES HYEMALIS. 



Winter Wren. 

 Troglodytes hyemalis VIEILLOT, Nouv. Diet, xxxiv, 1819, 514. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cn. Form, not stout. Size, small. Bill, much shorter than the head, slender, and but slightly curved. 

 Tail, short and rounded. Sternum, rather weakly built, with the keel very low in comparison to the breadth. Tongue, 

 linear, with the end, in nestlings, rounded, slightly bifid and fringed with cilia. In older specimens it is divided into 

 four points like that of the preceding species, only the space between the two central ones is not as deeply cleft. 

 In adult birds the tip becomes broken into irregular points. 



COLOR. Adult. Above, reddish-brown; darkest on the head, lighest on the rump. Upper surface of wings, 

 dark brown, barred on the outer webs with dusky. Tail above, similar to the back, tranversely lined with dusky. 

 Upper wing coverts and sides of neck spotted with white. The nape and rump have concealed spots of white. 

 Beneath, yellowish, which is lightest on the throat, but becomes rufous on the sides, flanks and abdomen, which 

 are crossed with black and white wavy lines. Under tail coverts, marked with rufous, black and white. There is a 

 yellowish-white superciliary line. The ear coverts are mixed with dusky. Under portion of the tail, similar to the 

 upper but a little paler. Under wing coverts, whitish, barred with dusky. Lower surface of wing, glaucous. 



