THE OOLOG1ST 



299 



been at least fifty-five, or sixty feet 

 from the ground. On climbing near 

 enough to get a glimpse of it, I was 

 surprised to find that although it sway- 

 ed back and forth in the slightest 

 breeze, it did not seem to be any more 

 carefully constructed than those nests 

 of yore, which were but a heap of 

 twigs upon a tussuck. Civilization has 

 not routed the herons, but simply 

 changed their nesting habits. 



Paul G. Howes. 



The Bewick's Wren. 



In southwestern Pennsylvania the 

 Bewick's Wren must generally be con- 

 sidered a summer resident, although 

 during certain winters a few may be 

 found about barnyards where outbuild- 

 ings afford them sufficient protection 

 against the wintry chill. 



This little wren may be seen espe- 

 cially during the warmer days of late 

 March and early April: for then he 

 becomes especially diligent. He creeps 

 about fences; crawls in and out of 

 brush heaps; hops about on the 

 ground and now and then mounts to 

 some higher fence rail, or any con- 

 venient projection, from which he 

 sends forth a beautiful song. 



His most common note is simply a 

 short "plit" which is either uttered 

 as a single note or as a succession 

 of "plits." This note he generally 

 utters while busily engaged in search- 

 ing for food. While creeping about 

 he very often jerks his tail in a pe- 

 culiar manner at the same time utter- 

 ing his peculiar note. He is very ner- 

 vous and seldom, indeed, do we find 

 him at rest; even while perched for 

 a song he will jump back and forth 

 as though he intended flying. 



The food of this wren consists en- 

 tirely of insects — spiders and their 

 eggs being the most common diet. 

 These they gather from crevices in 

 fence rails, under the bark of trees 



or about buildings; they also procure 

 some food from the ground. 



They are sociable bits of bird life 

 and enjoy spending much of their time 

 about farm houses and barn yards. At 

 least that is where we often see them. 

 In Greene County they seem to pre- 

 fer the higher ground i. e. the tops of 

 ridges and hills which abound in this 

 section. 



Some, it is true, are found inhabit- 

 ing the creek valleys, but few in com- 

 parison with the number found in the 

 above situation. Why they prefer the 

 higher ground I have never been able 

 to discover. Probably the higher 

 ground contains a more abundant food 

 supply. 



Nest building begins late in April — 

 usually about the 20th of that month. 

 At this time they are very busy little 

 fellows, carrying building material. 

 Xests consist of small twigs, hay, dry 

 grass, rootlets and sometimes moss 

 and leaves; well lined with poultry 

 feathers and horse hair. The sites 

 chosen vary greatly and they range 

 from an old pair of trousers or a hat 

 to a tin can. To my knowledge the 

 commonest places for nests are small 

 out houses: corn cribs, barns, sheds, 

 etc. In these they select some con 

 venient nook and therein construct the 

 nest. These may be either large and 

 bulky or frail, as best suits the crev- 

 ice wherein they build. Many nests 

 are rather neat while the interior is 

 always smoothly lined with soft ma- 

 terial. 



From five to eight eggs are deposit- 

 ed: the time usually being the first 

 week in May. These are white, much 

 speckled with reddish brown; some 

 being spotted. 



I have examined a considerable 

 number of nests and none contained 

 more than eight eggs; seven seemed 

 to be the common number to each set. 



