184 Bird -Lore 



reputation as colloquial vocalists, the Thrashers have almost the same ability 

 even though their songs are less sustained; and the songs of our native Wrens 

 equal either in volume, if the size of the bird is considered. 



There are eight species of Wrens locally common to the United States east of 

 the Rockies, whenever the region is thickly brushed enough to suit their necessi- 

 ties, and of these three Bewick's and the House Wren are sufficiently sociable, 

 not only to prefer to nest near homes, but to quickly take to nesting-boxes in 

 preference to the u^ual crannies and tree holes or the brush heaps in which they 

 spend so much time creeping to and fro, sometimes in pursuit of insect food 

 and sometimes it seems in a spirit of pure restlessness. 



On some morning in the last week in April, preferably after a night of rain 

 with wind, we come to consciousness with the knowledge that the morning 

 song is pervaded by new tones. Presently the voice of the Thrasher is heard 

 giving direction to an imaginary gardener about his planting; the Catbird has 

 once more possessed himself of his point of vantage on top of a clothes-post; 

 the Wood Thrush sings from the dogwood on the edge between garden and 

 woods, and an unrepeatable burst of melody from the corner of the porch 

 close under the window draws your attention to the little reddish, olive-brown 

 bird balancing there, with tail and eyes turned skyward, though you know before 

 you look that it is Johnny Wren who has returned, and that, pert as he looks, he 

 will be very soon taking housekeeping orders from the Jenny of his choice. 



In a day or two Jenny, or rather a number of Jennys, will appear, and then 

 follows a month of the most active courtship in the world of song birds. Active ? 

 I had almost said quarrelsome, for such it usually seems; but then a mere human 

 being may not be able to distinguish between Wren repartee and the actual 

 "back talk" of real anger. 



Whichever it may be, the pastime occupies nearly all the month of apple- 

 blossoms, the serious nest-huilding not beginning until the last week of May, 

 in spite of the fact that a pair of House Wrens have been known to rear three 

 broods of six each in a single season. 



For prolific birds such as these, whose cleanly habits lead them to prepare 

 a new home for each brood, it will be seen that the possibility of finding suitable 

 nesting-places is a matter of the first importance, as for such ardent insect eaters 

 the food supply is always at hand during the season — from April to October — 

 that they are with us. 



The old-fashioned farm was the Wren's paradise, as well as that of the Barn 

 Swallow, Chimney Swift and Phcebe; though the barn buildings were frequently 

 too close to the house for the best of human sanitation, and the various appur- 

 tenances were collected with a view of "being handy" rather than with an eye to 

 order and precision. Here Jenny and Johnny would locate their first nest in an 

 empty tin can upon one of the cowshed rafters, filling all the space not absolutely 

 needed b\' a mass of small dry sticks; for, above all things, the Wrens seem to 

 esteem coziness, and if a nook or apartment has too high a ceiling they immedi- 



