size and shape, and, except in size, approach even closer to those of the Great Carolina Wren. The 

 nest alone it would he difficult to distin^-uish from uncovered nests of T. melon, hut the ei;-o-s are not 

 neaidy so thickly marked. Normal specimens of each can be always differentiated. The House Wren, 

 however, sometimes lays eggs very similar to typical eggs of Bewick's Wren. 



REMAEKS: 



The nest and eggs represented on Plate XLII were taken May 17th, 1882, from a barn near the 

 Chillicothe and Londonderry road, nine miles from the former place. Its history is as follows: Upon the 

 day and at the place mentioned above, having a few leisure moments, I entered an old barn, unused 

 except to store away grain and hay, in search of a House Wren's nest. At different points on the 

 ground-floor, four large hand-hewed oak timbers answered the place of supporting columns for the floor 

 above. In one of these I observed a mortise-hole, about seven feet high, and from it protruding a few 

 straws and small sticks. Supposing this to be a House Wren's home, I put my finger into it, and, 

 finding four eggs, drew the nest fron^ the liole. As I did not expect to be in the neighborhood again, I 

 had decided at once to take it even with an incomplete set of eggs. When I saw the nest and its con- 

 tents, I concluded it must be an exceptional specimen or that it belonged to some other species. Up to 

 this time no bird had appeared to claim it, so I retired to a secluded place and waited all the time I 

 could spare, but the owner did not return. I then searched the premises around the barn, and was 

 gratified at finding a pair of Wrens which I thought belonged to the S[)ecies T. hevoich, and the probable 

 builders of the nest in my hand. So I left the place with a doubtful specimen. Three weeks later I 

 revisited the barn, and, to my delight, found a new and similar nest in the same mortise-hole, and a 

 pair of Wrens near by. I had a good view of them, and convinced myself that the birds before me 

 were not House Wrens, but were- Bewick's Wrens. As the nest was yet empty, I left it determined to 

 go back again in ten days prepared to shoot its occupant, in order to satisfy myself perfectly as to the 

 species. At the proposed time I returned with my gun, and was greatly disappointed at seeing the nest 

 and broken eggs upon the floor, and no Wrens about. Upon inquiry I learned that some children had 

 just a few days before destroyed the home. Again, later, I returned to the spot, but the objects of my 

 search had left the locality, or at least could not be discovered. 



Now, while there is no positive evidence that the nest and eggs figured is that of Bewick's Wren, 

 I firmly believe it to be. It is true, I had never seen a live Bewick's Wren up to this time, nor 

 did I see upon the nest either of the birds supposed to be Bewick's Wrens. But, taking every thing 

 into consideration, I am quite positive of the identity of the specimen illustrated. I have not hesitated, 

 therefore, to have it appear in the present work, although I am well awjire that, by some, a doubt may 

 be cast upon its authenticity, and that it may be considered only an exceptional example of the nest and 

 eggs of the House Wren. 



144 



