474 



NESTS AND EGGS OF 



721. HoDSE Ween (From Beal.) 



Tie nesting, eggs and entire general habits Of T. o. parkmanii correspond exactly 

 with those of the House Wren of the Bast. Mr. Walter B. Bryant states that Park- 

 man's Wren has been known to build in the skull of a horse, which had been placed 

 in a fruit tree, in the nests of Cliff Swallows, and within an old shoe lodged in a tree.. 



7216. WESTERN HOUSE WREIT. Troglodytes wdon parkmanii Baird. Geog. 

 Dist. — Western United States, except the Pacific coast, east to Manitoba, south into 

 Mexico. 



A smaller and paler form than the last; habits and eggs indistinguishable. 



722. WINTEB WREIT. Troglodytes hiemalis Vieill. Geog. Dist— ^Eastern. 

 North America, breeding from northern border of the United States northward; win- 

 tering from its southern breeding limit southward. 



The Winter Wren breeds from Northern United States northward. A number 

 of records are at hand of its breeding in Southern New York, in Maine, New Hamp- 

 shire and Vermont. The late Dr. Wheaton took young birds of this species in 

 Central Ohio whose plumage indicated they had shortly ^eft the nest. He was of the. 

 opinion that the bird breeds in Northern Ohio. Mr. Mcllwraith states that a tey/ re- 

 main to breed in suitable places throughout Ontario. Mr. Wm. L. Kells found it 

 breeding in wet woods of Central Ontario, nesting in cavities in the, roots of upturned 

 trees. .While the general habits of this bird are much like those of the House Wren, 

 its song, from all accounts, during the breeding season, is entirely different — "a soul 

 vibrating, gushing melody, which calls forth the sweetest woodland echoes." The 

 nest of this diminutive Wren is placed in hollows of low stumps in wet places, in 

 crevices of unoccupied buildings, in the tangled piles of fallen trees and branches. It 

 is composed of small twigs with moss and leaves interwoven, and warmly lined with 

 feathers of hawks, crows, grouse, or any that are at hand. The eggs are laid as early 

 as the middle of May or in June, and two broods are reared. Mr. Kells sayai that the 

 birds will at once forsake a nest that has been touched by human hand. The eggs 

 are four, five, or six in number, clear white in ground color, spotted with reddish- 

 brown and purple, chiefly at the larger ends. Average size .69x.49. 



