TROGLODYTIDyE — THE WRENS. 143 



with the rapidity of thonj,'ht. Mr. Audubon often saw it sin.u;infT from tlie 

 roof of an abandoned liat-l)oat, near New Orleans, and when its son;,' was 

 ended it would creep from one board to the next, enter an augur-hole at 

 one ])hice to reappear at another, catching numerous sjuders and other in- 

 sects all the while. 



Occasionally its movements are like those of a Creeper, ascending to the 

 upper branches of trees of a moderate lieight, or climbing a grapevine, 

 searching diligently among the leaves and in the crevices of the bark for 

 insects. 



This .species possesses a great variety and power of song. It is also said 

 to have and to e.xliibit renuirkal)le powers of imitation, with n great variety 

 in its appropriated notes of other birds, giving, with modulations, tlie hoarse 

 rattle of the Kingtislier, tlie lively notes of tlie Tufted Titmouse, the simple 

 refrain of the Ground Kobiii, with those of the Grakles, the Meadow Lark, 

 the Bluebird, and others. Like the common Wren, the Carolina generally 

 builds its nest in the hollow of some tree or stump, or any other convenient 

 cavity. At other times it constructs its own habitation without any other 

 protection than the thick branches of a vine or shrub. In these situations 

 they are long and deei), and have an artificial roofing, often separate from the 

 nest itself. Tlie materials employed in their con.struction are hay, grasses, 

 leaves, feathers, horse-hair, and dry fibres of the long Spanish moss. They 

 are softly and warmly lined with fur, hair, and feathers. The nest is not 

 unfre(iuently five or six inches in depth, while the opening is not large 

 enotigh to admit more than one 1)ird at a time. They sometimes raise three 

 broods in a season. 



It breeds as far north as Philadelphia, Mr. Audubon having found its nest 

 in a swamp in New .lersey, opi)osite that city. 



Although seemingly studious of concealment, and shy and retiring in its 

 habits, Nuttall frequently observed it in Tuscaloosa and other large towns 

 in Alabama, appearing on the tops of barns and out-houses, singing with 

 great energy. 



Dr. Coofier, who enjoyed a favorable opportunity of watching these birds 

 in Florida, in the spring and summer of 1859, found a nest of this Wren in 

 the middle of March. It was built in a small box on a shelf in a mill, and 

 was about four feet from the ground. It was arched over at the top, though 

 this was not necessary to shelter it. This covering was formed of shavings, 

 with a few small sticks and straws. Four eggs were laid. The birds were 

 very tame, and were not alarmed by the loud noise of the mill, nor by a cat 

 almost always present. Another nest found by Dr. Cooper was built in a 

 small hole in the trunk of a tree, not more than six inches from the ground. 

 This nest was not arched over. Its close proximity to a dwelling-house 

 alone protected it from wild animals. 



The eggs of this Wren are usually six or seven in number, and vary in size 

 and shape. They are for the most part of a spheroidal-oval shape, though 



