Jan., 1909. Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 687 



venient corner in the roof of an arbor proceeded to raise their young. 

 The family suddenly left about the middle of July." (Birds N. E. 

 Til., 1876, p. 96.) 



There appears to be no authentic record of its occurrence in 

 Wisconsin. 



It breeds commonly in southern Illinois. The nest is in a hole in 

 a stump or crevice in a summer house, arbor, or in a bird box, and is 

 composed of grass, plant stems, etc. The eggs are from s to 7, white 

 or grayish white, finely speckled with rufous brown and lilac-gray, 

 and measure about .67 x .51 inches. 



Genus TROGLODYTES VieiU. 



344. Troglodytes aedon Vieill. 

 House Wren. 



Distr.: Eastern United States and southern Canada, west to 

 Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois; winters in the Gulf states and east- 

 ern Mexico. 



Adult: Upper parts, dull cinnamon brown, the rump brighter and 

 tinged with rufous brown; back usually with numerous indistinct 



narrow dark bars ; rump with concealed 

 white spots; outer webs of primaries 

 with narrow bars; tail, brown, barred 

 with black (no grayish white patches on 

 tail feathers) ; under parts, brownish 

 white, brownish on flanks; sides and 

 flanks with numerous narrow dark bars. 

 Sexes similar. 



Length, 5.05; wing, 2; tail, 1.70; 

 bill, .50. 

 The House Wren is a not uncommon summer resident in Illinois 

 and Wisconsin and a common migrant in spring and fall. I have 

 examined typical Illinois specimens of this bird. Being retiring in 

 its disposition it is more often heard than seen. It has a charming 

 little song difficult to describe, but usually beginning with several 

 quick, sharp notes followed by a trill. 



Messrs. Kumlien and HoUister say: "A common migrant in eastern 

 Wisconsin in almost equal numbers with the next. It breeds spar- 

 ingly anywhere from the southern border northward. It arrives the 

 last week of April and is common until the middle of May, when all 

 but a few pass northward. It nests late in June in the towns and 



