Birds of Indiana. 113b 



Marsh Wren: "This spring (1889) I made the following observations 

 on the Short-billed Marsh "Wren: June 3, several were noted in the 

 grassy marshes near Sheffield, Ind., and two adult birds were taten 

 that day. I was at first attracted by their song, which is altogether 

 different from that of C. palustris. 



"In the manner of deliverj' it forcibly reminds one of the song of 

 the Dickcissel (Spiza americana), although, of course, it was not 

 near as loud. They were quite shy, but would allow one to approach 

 within forty or fifty feet of them, when they would dart down into 

 the thick grass, from which it was almost impossible to dislodge them. 

 The specimens that I secured were shot from small bushes on the 

 edge of marsh, these being the favorite stands occupied by the males 

 in song. Their stomachs contained the remains of small beetles and 

 other insects; testes were greatly swollen. 



"ISTine (9) birds in all were seen and heard that day, and which 

 no doubt were nest building. On June 14, I again visited the same 

 locality. Some new and last year's nests were found, and three or 

 four pairs were apparently nesting there. Like all Wrens, I found 

 them to have a very irascible disposition, and they scolded me con- 

 tinually while I was nest hunting. My efforts, however, to secure 

 eggs were unsuccessful. 



"Several old nests examined were found to be lined with pieces of 

 wasps' nests, bog moss and vegetable substances. June 28, I visited 

 the marsh again, and soon I learned to my regret that I had overlooked 

 the nests containing eggs on my last visitation (June 14), but which 

 at that period even would have been of little use to me, considering 

 the advanced state of eggs and their extreme fragility. I found in 

 their stead that at least one brood had hatched, one young a day or 

 two from the nest being taken. Another was discovered, but which 

 succeeded in getting away from me in the thick, rank grass. It was 

 quite a while before I successfully located these little fellows, although 

 they were chipping around, seemingly within a foot or two of me, 

 for some time, and at least a half hour was consumed in the search 

 before I was fully rewarded with the capture of one. Two (3) new 

 nests, evidently prepared for the second brood, were found, and a 

 piece of shell from one egg just hatched was picked up in an adjoining 

 marsh the same day. This species is a clever creeper in the dense 

 grass, and is able to move around at a lively rate without showing 

 itself" (Jan. 18, 1892). 



Mr. C. E. Aiken writes me that he found them in the marshes bor- 

 dering sloughs in Lake County in May, 1871. 



