THE GROUND ROBIN. THE WREN. 193 



winter, having arrived probably from the colder interior of the state, 

 and in those situations they are consequently often trapped and killed 

 in great numbers 



THE GROUND ROBIN, OR TOWWEE FINCH. 



T t is a vary common, humble, and unsuspicious bird, dwelling 



commonly in the 

 thick dark woods 

 and their borders, 

 flying low, and 

 frequenting thick- 

 ets near streams 

 of water, where it 

 spends much time 

 in scratching up 

 the withered 

 leaves for worms 

 and their larvae, 

 and it is particular- 

 ly fond of Wire- 

 worms (or Iuli) f 

 as well as various 

 kinds of seeds and 

 gravel. Its rust- 

 ling scratch among 

 the leafy carpet of 

 the forest is, often, 

 the only indica- 

 tion of its pre- 

 sence, excepting 



now and men a call upon its mate (tow-wee, tow-wee, tow-weet,) with 

 -vhich it is almost constantly associated. While thus busily engaged in 

 foraging for subsistence, it may be watched and approached without 

 showing any alarm; and taking a look often at the observer, without 

 suspicion, it scratches up the leaves as before. This call of recognition 

 is uttered in a low and somewhat sad tone, and if not soon answered, 

 it becomes louder and interrogatory, tow-wee, towee ? and terminates 

 often with toweet. They are accused of sometimes visiting the pea- 

 fields to feed, but occasion no sensible damage. 



THE WREN. 



The Wren is found throughout Europe and America. Its nest is 

 curiously constructed, chiefly of moss, and lined with feathers: in 

 shape it is almost oval, with only one small entrance. This nest is 

 generally found in some corner of an out-house, stack of wood, or 

 hole in a wall, near our habitations ; but when the Wren builds in 

 woods, it generally does this in some bush near the ground, on the 



