94 WINTER WREN. 
WINTER WREN.—SYLVIA TROGLODYTES. — Fie. 34. 
Motacilla troglodytes ? Linn. — Peale’s Museum. No. 7284 
TROGLODYTES HYEMALIS ? — Vixi.iot 
Troglodytes Europeus Leach, Bonap. Synop. p. 93.—Troglodytes hyemalis 
Bee Vieille Eneye. MER, ae 10: North, ool. a, 6.318, : 
Tuis little stranger visits us from the north in the month of October, 
sometimes remaining with us all the winter, and is always observed, 
early in spring, on his route back to his breeding-place. In size, 
color, song, and manners, he approaches nearer to the Kuropean Wren 
Titmouse, or Gold-crested Wren, to the stringy successive line of the Long-tailed 
one, — are objects whit’: have, no doubt, called forth the notice of the ornithologist 
who has sumetimes allowed himself to examine them in their natural abodes. The 
form of the different species is nearly alike; thick-set, stout, and short, the legs 
comparatively strong, the whole formed for active motion, and uniting strength for 
the removal of loose bark, moss, or even rotten wood, in search of their favorite 
food, insects ; it, however, varies in two species of this country, (one of which will 
form a separate subdivision,) the Long-tailed and the Bearded Titmice, (P. caudatus 
and biarmicus,) in the weaker frame and more lengthened shape of the tail; and it 
may be remarked, that both these make suspended nests, the one in woods, of a 
Jengthened form and beautiful workmanship, generally hung near the extremity of 
a branch belonging to some thick silver, spruce, or Scotch fir; the other balanced 
and waving among reeds, like some of the aquatic Warblers; while all the other 
species, and indeed all those abroad with whole nidification lam acquainted, choose 
some hoHow tree or rent wall, for their place of breeding. In a Brazilian species, 
figured by Temminck, the tail assumes a forked shape. 
Insects are not their only food, though perhaps the most natural. When the sea- 
son becomes too inclement for this supply, they become granivorous, and will 
lunder the farm yards, or eat grain and potatoes with the poultry and pigs. Some 
fie seen so domesticated, (the common Blue and Greater Titmice,) as to come 
regularly during the storm to the windows, for crumbs of bread. When confined, 
they become very docile, and will also eat pieces of flesh or fat. During winter, 
they roost in holes of trees or walls, eaves of thatched houses, or hay and corm 
ticks. When not in holes, they remain suspended, with the back downwards or 
outwards. A common Blue Tomtit (and, I have no doubt, the same individual) has 
roosted for three years in the same spot, under one of the projecting capitals of a 
pillar, by the side of my own front door. The colors of the group are chaste and 
pleasing, as might have been expected from their distribution. There are, however, 
one or two exceptions in those figured by M. Temminck, from Africa. The gen- 
eral shades are black, gray, white, blue, and different tints of olive, sometimes 
reddish brown ; and in these, when the brightest colors occur, the blue and yellow, 
they are so blended, as not to be hard or offensive. Most of the species have 
some decided marks or coloring about the head, and the plumage is thick and 
downy, and loose —a very necessary requisite to those which frequent the more 
northern latitudes. 
Mr. Audubon says that this species sometimes forms a nest, by digging a hole 
for the purpose in the hardest wood with great industry and perseverance, although 
it is more frequently contented with the hole of the Downy Woodpecker, or some 
other small bird of that genus. We can hardly conceive that the Crested Titmouse, 
or indeed any of the race, had sufficient strength to dig its own nest. The bil., 
though very powerful, when compared with the individual’s bulk, is not formed on 
the principle of those which excavate for themselves. I lately received the nest of 
this species, taken from some hollow tree. The inside lining was almost entirely 
composed of the scales and cast-off exuvia of snakes. — Ep. 
