CAROLINA WREN. 147 
dwelling; they will also take up an abode in buildings, and Capt. Dummett assured 
me that two or three pairs inhabited his boat-house, which was placed over the water, 
every season. Mr. Henshaw called my attention to a deserted structure formed by this 
species which was placed in a niche of a wall in the old stone barracks at Miami. I 
have also known a nest in the interior of a barn, the birds having found entrance 
through a knot hole. 
“This Wren begins to breed about the 1st of April and continues until June, rear- 
ing two or three broods. They are exceedingly sensitive about being disturbed at this 
season, and I have frequently found nests that were being completed, but upon visiting 
them again, would invariably find that the birds had abandoned them. It will be 
seen by the examples given that these Wrens possess sufficient reason to avail them- 
selves of surrounding circumstances when they wish to build, even turning the habita- 
tions of man to account. But what particularly distinguishes these birds from many 
others is their loud and cheery song; perched on some slightly elevated position they 
will pour forth such clear and thrilling lays that the most careless observer will pause 
to listen and admire their power. There are no birds which excel them in the frequency 
in which this melody is given; from early morning until late at night they may be 
heard singing. Seasons as well as time are utterly disregarded by them, for their har- 
monious strains are given with as much earnestness in December as during the breeding 
time. The remembrance of the melodies ever brings to my mind pleasant visions of 
dark green foliage and the rustling palm leaves which grow so luxuriantly in this land; 
for we were always greeted by these birds whenever we pitched our tents by the side 
of a hummock or thicket, and I think no one, who has heard them as often as I have, 
will hesitate to place this variety of the Great Carolina Wren among the finest song- 
birds of Florida.” 
NAMES: Caro ina WREN, Great Carolina Wren, Mocking Wren, Louisiana Wren, Hammock or Hummock | 
Wren, and Palmetto Wren (in Florida).—Carolina-Zaunkénig (German).— Troglodyte de la Louisiane, 
Roitelet de la Louisiane (Buff.), Troglodyte de Roseaux (Vieill.). 
SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Sylvia ludoviciana Lath. (1790). Troglodytes ludovicianus Licht. (1823), Aud., 
Nutt. THRYOTHORUS LUDOVICIANUS Bonar. (1888). Motacilla caroliniana Bart., Trav. Fla. 
(1791). Certhia caroliniana Wilson, A. O. II. (1800). 
DESCRIPTION: Male and female alike. Above, reddish-brown, lightest on the rump. Exposed parts of 
wings and tail barred with brown, the outer edges of the tail-feathers and quills showing series of 
alternating whitish and dusky spots. A streak above the eye whitish, bordered with dark brown. 
Throat, whitish; rest of the under-parts, pale rusty, darkest on the under tail-coverts, which are con- 
spicuously barred with black. 
Length, 6.00 inches; wings, 2.60; tail, 2.45 inches. 
