480 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



the palisades of the Hudson. In the interior of the State it has been 

 recorded from Ithaca, Tully, Batavia, Buffalo, Brockport, Forest Lawn 

 (Monroe county), and Whiskey point, Canandaigua lake. All these records 

 from the interior, however, are of individual birds or pairs, except the 

 Ithaca records, the first of which, June 21, 1878, was by King (see N. O. C. 

 Bui. 3:193); the second by Fuertes; and the third by Doctor Reed, 

 June 12, 1903. All three of these reports seem to indicate that the species 

 breeds near the southern end of Cayuga lake and that it is found year 

 after year in the same locality. It is probable that it breeds in other 

 localities of western New York, but even this Ithaca instance has not yet 

 been proved by the finding of the nest. Therefore we must regard this 

 wren confined, as a breeding species, to the warmest portions of the 

 Carolinian area in New York. It is interesting to note, however, that of 

 recent years the Carolina wren has enlarged its territory toward the north, 

 having been found on various occasions in southern New England, the 

 writer having observed it himself at Wood's Hole, Mass., in July 1909; 

 and the reports mentioned above from Canandaigua lake. Forest Lawn, 

 Batavia and Buffalo probably indicate a recent advance of the species 

 from the south, as has occurred in various other Carolinian species. It is 

 to be hoped that this interesting bird will become common throughout 

 the warmer portions of the State. 



Haunts and habits. This wren is exceedingly active and spritely in 

 habits, but is rather retiring in disposition, preferring rocky glens, borders 

 of streams, swamps, brush heaps and undergrowths near water, and fallen 

 tree tops, to the orchard and garden which the House wren prefers. Its 

 call notes are varied and spritely, consisting of innumerable clacks and 

 clinks and metallic rattles, musical trills and k-r-ings, its commoner song 

 notes having been compared to the syllables whee-udee, whee-udee, whee-udee, 

 and tea-kettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle. Its nest is concealed in old stumps, 

 holes, hollows in trees and crevices in rocks and buildings. It is a bulky 

 affair, constructed of twigs, grasses and leaves, lined with feathers and other 

 soft material, fine grass and hair. The eggs are 4 to 6 in number, white 



