WRENS 331 



composed 18 per cent, caterpillars about 6 per cent, and grass- 

 hoppers about 2 per cent. 



WRENS: Family Troglodytidae. 



CAROLINA WREN : Thryothorus Ivdovidawus ludovidanus 



(Latham) . 



State records. — The Carolina wren (fig. 26), is the com- 

 monest and most widely distributed member of its family in 

 the South, and is a permanent resident wherever found. It 

 occurs in practically all localities, from the coastal islands to 

 the tops of the mountains, and is nearly everywhere abundant. 

 Nesting begins the first of April and continues till midsum- 

 mer. Eggs have been found at Autaugaville, April 8 ; Leigh- 

 ton, April 23, May 13, June 20, and July 21 ; Prattville, May 5 ; 

 Guntersville, June 15 ; and York, June 28. 



General habits. — This wren lives in dense thickets, brush 

 piles, and similar situations and, although partial to low bot- 

 tomland timber, is found also about farmyards and in town 

 gardens. Indeed, so domestic is it at times that it is often 

 called "house wren," though that name belongs properly to 

 another bird. It forages chiefly on the ground and over 

 fallen logs and is almost constantly active. Its cheery, rol- 

 licking song may be heard more or less throughout the winter, 

 as well as at other seasons. The song is subject to a number 

 of variations, but is always a series of loud, ringing whistles 

 in triplet form and easily recognizable. The bird has also a 

 diversity of other notes, scoldings, cackles, musical trills, etc. 

 It places its nest in a variety of situations — on the ground in 

 the woods, in crevices, or on the sills of outbuildings, or in 

 hollow stumps or trees. 



Food habits. — Examination of 22 stomachs of this bird 

 taken in Alabama showed the food to consist chiefly of beetles, 

 bugs, ants and other hymenoptera, flies, caterpillars, grass- 

 hoppers, and spiders, with a few seeds. This wren is an im- 

 portant enemy of the boll weevil, which it seeks out and 

 destroys in its hibernating retreats under rubbish piles and 

 in similar situations. 



