152 NORTH AMJ'JRKJAX IJIKDS. 



hu-er and .Inrk.-r l\mn of the i,resent sjitvios, hardly distinct enou-d. to lu, 



■'i^;;'''^,"' " ™''- ^^'- ^^"''"''"" •""* ^^'^'^ "" i"'livi.l..a.l near Kastport 

 m mi.. The younj,^ were tbllowin- their parents through the tan-led re- 

 cesses ot a dark forest, in search of food. Others were ohtained in the same 

 par of Maine, neai^ Dennisville, where Mr. Lincoln informed Mr. Auduhon 

 that this bird was the con.n.on Wren of the neighhorhood, an.l that they bred 

 1.1 liollow luys in.the woods, but seldom ai)proached farm-houses 



In the winter following, at Charleston, S. C, Mr. Audul)on again met indi- 

 VKhials of tins sui)i,o.sed species, .showing the .same habits as in Maine re- 

 maMHiig 111 thick hedges, along .litciies in the woo.ls, not far from plantations. 

 Ihe notc^s are described as differing considerably from those of the Hou.se 

 N\ieii. It has not been seen by Mr. IJoardman, th..ugh residin.^ in the 

 region where it is said to be the common Wren. Professor Verrill mentions 

 It as a rare lurd in Western Maine. 



Mr. Charles S. I'aine, of Randolph, Vt., is the only natumlist who has 

 met with wliat he su,.po.ses were its nest and eggs. 'tIic following is his 

 account, communicated by letter. 



" The AVoo.1 Wren comes among ns in the spring about the lOth or loth 

 of Apri , and siiig,s habitually a.s it .skips among the brush and logs an.l 

 •nxb-r the roots and sti.in,,s of trees, hi one instance I haye known it to 

 make it^ apj-earance in midwinter, and to be about the hou.se and ban, some 

 time. It IS only occasionally that they siu-nd tlie summer here (Central 

 Verm..nt). a he nest from which I obtained the egg you now haye, I found 

 about tlie hrst of duly, just as the young were about to fly. There were tiye 

 young bir,l,s and one egg. The nest ^vas built on the hanging bark of a de- 

 caying beech-log, close uiKh-r the l,.g. A great quantity of m„,ss and rotten 

 wood had been collected an.l filled inaroun.l the nest, and a little round hole 

 Mi for tlK. ....trance. Th.- n,>st was lined with a soft, downy substance I 

 liaye no doubt that they .sometimes commence to biwl as early as the mid.lle 

 of iMay, as I haye seen their young out in early June." 



.Mr. I'aine .bscivlits the statement that they buil.I their nests in iiolcs in 

 tlie gimiKl. The ..gg refenv,! to by Mr. i^.in.. is „val i„ shape, slightly nujre 

 point.'.! at one end, measuring .To of an inch in length by .f.li i„ brea.ith 

 The groun.l ,s a d.-a.l chall<y-white, oyer whicli a.e .sprinkled a few ye.y tine 

 .Us of a light yidlowish-brnwii, slightly more numerous at the la.-er en.l 

 1 Ins egg, while it lu-ais .s..nie ivs..mbla.ice to that of the Winter Wren i.s 

 totally unlike (hat of the House Wren. 



