SONG-BIRDS. Wrens 



" There is a little bird that sings — 

 Sweetheart — sweetheart — sweet ! " 



without knowing that it was the Carolina Wren, whose 

 notes his accurate ear interpreted in syllables. 



House Wren: Troglodytes aedon. 



Plate 15. Fig. 1. 

 Length: 4.60-5.25 inches. 

 Male and Female : Dark brown above, minutely barred with blackish. 



Under parts gray with brownish wash and faint bandings. 



Fairly long tail. Bill black above, lower mandible light ; feet 



irown. 

 Song: A merry roulade, sudden, abruptly ended and frequently 



repeated. 

 Season : Middle of April to October. 

 Breeds: Locally through range. Frequently rears three broods a 



season. 

 Nest : A loose heap of sticks with a soft lining, in holes, boxes, etc. 

 Eggs: 6-10, cream-colour, so thickly spotted with brown that the 



whole egg is tinged. 

 Range : Eastern United States and southern Canada, west to Indiana 



and Louisiana. 



The House Wren is a bird who has allowed the word male 

 to be obliterated from its social constitution at least. We 

 always speak of Jenny Wren ; always refer to the Wren as 

 she, as we do of a ship. It is Johnny Wren who sings and 

 disports himself generally, but it is Jenny, who, by dint of 

 much fussing and scolding, keeps herself well to the front. 

 She chooses the building-site and settles all the little 

 domestic details. If Johnny does not like her choice, he 

 may go away and stay away; she will remain where she 

 has taken up her abode and make a second matrimonial 

 venture. In fact, a little exhibition of independence of this 

 kind took place in our barnyard last spring. 



Jenny makes herself as much at home about the wood- 

 shed and outhouses as the mouse does in the granary, and 

 when she slips in and out of the woodpile she seems like a 

 mouse masquerading in feathers. Raise her suspicions or 



83 



