BIRDS OF THE GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 53 



warbling vociferously; and these manoeuvres and peregri- 

 nations have occupied hardly a minute, so rapid and in- 

 cessant are all his motions. 



The notes of the Wren are very lively and garrulous, 

 and if not uttered more frequently during the heat of the 

 day, are, on account of the general silence of birds, more 

 noticeable at that hour. There is a concert at noon- 

 day, as well as in ■ the morning and evening, among the 

 birds ; and of the former the Wren is one of the principal 

 musicians. After the hot rays of the sun have silenced 

 the early performers, the Song-Sparrow and the Bed- 

 Thrush continue to sing at intervals during the greater 

 part of the day. The Wren is likewise heard at all hours ; 

 but when the languishing heat of noon has arrived, the 

 few birds that continue to sing are more than usually 

 vocal, and seem to form a select company. The birds 

 which are thus associated with the Wren are the Bobo- 

 link, the Preacher, the Linnet, and the Catbird, if he be 

 anywhere near. If we were at this hour in the woods 

 we should hear the loud, shrill voice of the Oven-Bird 

 and some of the warbling sylvians. 



Of all these noonday singers, the Wren is the most re- 

 markable. His song is singularly varied and animated. 

 He has great compass and execution, but wants variety 

 in his tones. He begins very sharp and shrill, like a 

 grasshopper, slides down to a series of guttural notes, 

 then ascends like the rolling of a drum in rapidity of 

 utterance to another series of high notes. Almost without 

 a pause he recommences his querulous insect-chirp, and 

 proceeds through the same trilling and demi-semi-quaver- 

 ing as before. He is not particular about the part of his 

 song which he makes his closing note. He will leave off 

 in the middle of a strain, when he seems in the height 

 of ecstasy, to pick up a spider or a fly. As the Wren 

 produces two broods in a season, his notes are prolonged 



