264 



THE BEWICK WREN. 



his beautiful 

 song- or his 

 confidence in 

 man. 



Tlie height 

 of these ac- 

 t i o n s is 

 reached at 

 the mating- 

 season, for 

 he is the liird 

 that makes 

 life s \\' e e t 

 about tlie old 

 log cabins, 

 deserted 

 w o odpiles 

 and half -de- 

 stroyed or- 

 chards. Al- 

 m o s t an v 

 place in the 

 n e i ghbor- 

 hood of man 

 is chosen for 

 a nesting- 

 site. The arm-pit of an old coat, old tin and coffee cups, log cabin nooks and 

 corners, often contain his nest. This is rather bulky, con-iposed of sticks, 

 grass, wool, hcjrse ai-id C(j\v hairs, cpiail and chicken feathers, snake skins and 

 other rubbish. From four to eleven eggs are found in it in April and again in 

 June. They are white '\vith various spots of hlac-gray and brown, and my 

 obser\'ations lead n-ie to the belief that the eggs of the older birds are more 

 heavily spotted than those of the younger ones, and the spots are also better 

 distril)uted over the entire surface of the eggs, while those of younger birds 

 sh(jw more minute spots, and these generally in a wreath around the blunt end 

 of the egg. In about two weeks the eggs are hatched and a jolly crowd of 

 youngsters soon joins the parents in their insect-hunt, and the next year we 

 have the pleasure of hearing still oftener this bold, bright songster in his na- 

 tive haunts. May the Bewick Wren live and thrive forever in the rugged 

 hills of southern Ohio, to bring joy and cheerfulness to the hearts of men ! 



W. F. Hknninger. 



Taken near JVaverly 



BEWICK WREN'S NKST IN Ol.n TIN CUP. 



