22 



OUR SOUTHERN BIRDS 



bright Wrens, and to help them by guarding 

 their nests and by throwing out cracked nuts for 

 them to peck at in snowy weather. 



Last summer a pair of Bewick's Wrens built 

 their big, loose nest in the underpinning of my 

 tent floor. For weeks they came and went all 

 day long; after the young were hatched they 

 stopped on every trip to sing, with a happy little 



flutter of wings and tail, a 

 triumphal carol over the 

 mouthful brought. Such a 

 celebration when the fledg- 

 lings quit the nest — such 

 urging, such coaxing and 

 scolding of the reluctant 

 youngsters, and what burst- 

 ing every minute into loud, 

 excited song! 



A pair of House Wrens 

 also perched on the canvas 

 of mornings, and a short, perky, jerky Winter 

 Wren, later in the year, was pleased to explore 

 a broken stump near by. The Bewick's Wrens 

 and the Carolina Wren several times ventured 

 into the tent, probably by mistake, when I was 

 studying quietly. It was interesting to note that 

 while others might forget the w T ay out and go 

 into a panic, the Carolina Wren behaved like 

 one sure of his welcome, now examining every 



BEWICK'S WREN 



Length 5 inches 



