Wrens SONG-BIRDS. 



FAMILY TROGLODYTIDjE : WRENS, THRASHERS, ETC. 



Sub-family Troglodytin^: : Wrens. 



Carolina Wren: Thryothorus ludovicianus. 



Length : 6 inches. 



Male and Female : Chestnut- brown above, wings and tail barred with 



clear brown. Whitish stripe over eye. White chin. Under 



parts buffy. Bill straight and dark, same length as head. 



Feet dusky flesh-coloured. Female smaller. 

 Song : A joyful melody, — " Sweetheart, sweetheart, sweet ! " Also 



many varied mocking notes. 

 Season : A rather rare summer visitor north of New Jersey, yet 



breeding sparingly in New England as far as Massachusetts. 

 Breeds : Through range, but seldom in the northern portion. Raises 



two broods. 

 Nest : Builds a large nest in tree-holes and bird-boxes as well as in 



the undergrowth of wild places. 

 Eggs : 6-7, white, spotted with purple and reddish brown. 

 Bange: Eastern United States (rare toward the northern border), 



west to the Plains. Rare in southern New England. 



The Carolina is the largest of our Wrens and is also the 

 best vocalist, its melodies (for it sings several) having 

 called up many eulogies. In addition to this, it is a great 

 mocker, with an especial fancy for weird and unusual 

 sounds. When in full song it perches on the top of a bush 

 or small tree, raising its head and dropping its tail in Cat- 

 bird fashion. 



It is a winter resident in some of the Middle States, and 

 is said by Dr. Warren to be abundant in southwestern Penn- 

 sylvania. Though much more shy than its smaller kin, it 

 builds like them about outhouses and in various odd nooks, 

 and has the House Wren's habit of prying and peeping. 

 It collects its food chiefly from the bark of trees, except in 

 autumn when, like many other insect-eaters, it feeds upon 

 berries. 



Dr. Shoemaker, a Western bird-lover, wrote a song 

 beginning, — 



82 



