120 



BEWICK'S WREN. 



-f- Troglodytes Bewickii, Aud. 

 PLATE CXVIIL— Male. 



The bird represented under the name of Bewick's Wren I shot on the 

 19th October, 1821, about five miles from St. Francisville, in the State of 

 Louisiana. It was standing as nearly as can be represented in the position 

 in which you now see it, and upon the prostrate trunk of a tree not far from 

 a fence. My drawing of it was made on the spot. Another individual was 

 shot a few days after, by a young friend, Joseph R. Mason, who accom- 

 panied me on my rambles. In the month of November 1829, I had the 

 pleasure of meeting with another of the same species, about fifteen miles 

 from the place above mentioned, and as it was near the house at which I was 

 then on a visit, I refrained from killing it, in order to observe its habits. 

 For several days, during which I occasionally saw it, it moved along the 

 bars of the fences, with its tail generally erect, looking from the bar on 

 which it stood towards the one next above, and caught spiders and other 

 insects, as it ran along from one panel of the fence to another in quick 

 succession, now and then uttering a low twitter, the only sound which I 

 heard it emit. It occasionally hopped sidewise, now with its head towards 

 me, and again in the contrary direction, at times descending to the ground, 

 to inspect the lower bar, but only for a few moments. At other times, it 

 would fly to a peach or apple-tree close to the fence, ascend to its top 

 branches, always with hopping movements, and, as if about to sing, would 

 for an instant raise its head, and lower its tail, but without giving utterance 

 to any musical notes. It would then return to the fence, and continue its 

 avocations as already described. I shot the bird, and have it preserved in 

 spirits. 



In shape, colour and movements, it nearly resembles the Great Carolina 

 Wren, and the House Wren. It has not, however, the quickness of motion, 

 nor the liveliness, of either of these birds. 



For the following observations regarding this species I am indebted to my 

 friend Dr. Bachman. "In the month of July 1835, when on a visit to the 

 mountains of Virginia, I heard at the Salt Sulphur Springs the note of a 

 Wren that I did not recognise as that of any of our known species. On 

 procuring the bird I ascertained it to be the Bewick's Wren. There were a 



