146 CAROLINA WREN. 
Wren is no one-tuned musical bore, but possesses much of the vocal versatility of his 
more favored rival the Mockingbird.” The effect this beautiful melody has on a poetical 
and refined mind has been charmingly expressed by Dr. W. L. Shoemaker in his ‘“‘Sweet- 
heart Bird-song”’. 
There is a little bird that sings— 
“Sweetheart —sweetheart —sweet!”’ 
I know not what his name may be; 
I only know his notes please me, 
As loud he sings, and thus sings he— 
“Sweetheart —sweetheart —sweet:”’ 
I’ve heard him sing on soft spring-days — 
‘Sweetheart —sweetheart — sweet !’’ 
And when the sky was dark above, 
And wintry winds had stripped the grove, 
He still poured forth those words of love— 
“Sweetheart —sweetheart —sweet!"”’ 
And, like that bird, my heart, too, sings — 
“Sweetheart —sweetheart —sweet!”’ 
When heaven is dark, or bright and blue, 
When trees are bare, or leaves are new, 
It thus sings on—and sings of you— 
“Sweetheart —sweetheart—sweet!”’ 
What need of other words than these — 
“Sweetheart —sweetheart —sweet!” 
If I should sing a whole year long, 
My love would not be shown more strong 
Than by this short and simple song — 
“Sweetheart —sweetheart —sweet !""* 
The Mocking Wren of South Florida, now known as the FLoripa Wren, Thryo- 
thorus ludovicianus miamensis RIDGWAY, is a variety of the species just described. If Iam 
not mistaken, it was discovered by Mr. C.J. Maynard near Miami, Fla. “I know of no 
birds,” says Mr. Maynard, “which are more variable in selecting places in which to 
build their nests. The usual situations chosen by the Wrens on Indian River, Fla., 
were at the bottoms of the ‘boots’ of the palmettos. The ‘boot’ is the base of the 
dead leaf-stalks which adhere to the tree after the top has decayed and fallen off, they 
are quite broad, slightly concave, and extend upward in an oblique direction, leaving a 
space between them and the trunk; the fronds in falling often cover the top with a 
fibrous débris which is impervious to water, and the cavities beneath form a snug 
nesting place for this variety of the Carolina Wren. Many more nests will be found in 
these situations than elsewhere, especially in the wilderness; but I once found one built 
between two palmetto leaves which had dropped over in such a position that their 
surfaces were horizontal and only three or four inches apart, forming a floor as well 
as a roof for the home of the Wrens. They had conveyed a large amount of suit- 
able material into this place and formed a cozy domicile. The fronds were swayed by 
every passing breeze, yet in such a manner as not to injure the structure which was 
between them... They will also breed in holes of trees; one nest which came under 
my notice was placed in the fork of an orange tree, but a few rods from an inhabited 
* When, many years ago, this song was written, I really did not know the name of the sweetly singing bird that 
suggested it Long afterwards, I was informed of it by my friend, Mr. E. J. Loomis, of the Nautical Almanac Office, 
Washington, D. C. He also pointed out to me the interesting remarks of Nuttall concerning the various songs of the 
Mocking Wren, and especially his ‘‘Sweetheart” song, the words of which I have used as a refrain to mine. W.L.S. 
