X30 WINTER WREN. 



in Pennsylvania, at a time when I was intent on guarding myself against the 

 venomous reptiles which I expected to encounter, the sweet song of this 

 Wren came suddenly on my ear, and with so cheering an effect, that I 

 instantly lost all apprehension of danger, and pressed forward through the 

 rank briars and stiff laurels, in pursuit of the bird, which I hoped was not 

 far from its nest. But he, as if bent on puzzling me, rambled here and there 

 among the thickest bushes with uncommon cunning, now singing in one spot 

 not far distant, and presently in another in a different direction. After much 

 exertion and considerable fatigue, I at last saw it alight on the side of a large 

 tree, close to the roots, and heard it warble a few notes, which I thought 

 exceeded any it had previously uttered. Suddenly another Wren appeared 

 by its side, but darted off in a moment, and the bird itself which I had 

 followed disappeared. I soon reached the spot, without having for an instant 

 removed my eyes from it, and observed a protuberance covered with moss 

 and lichens, resembling those excrescences which are often seen on our 

 forest trees, with this difference, that the aperture was perfectly rounded, 

 clean, and quite smooth. I put a finger into it, and felt the pecking of a 

 bird's bill, while a querulous cry was emitted. In a word, I had, the first 

 time in my life, found the nest of our Winter Wren. Having gently forced 

 the tenant from his premises, I drew out the eggs with a sort of scoop which 

 I formed. I expected to find them numerous, but there were not more than 

 six, and the same number I afterwards found in the only other nest of this 

 species ever discovered by me. The little bird called upon its mate, and 

 their united clamour induced me to determine upon leaving their treasures 

 with them; but just as I was about going off, it struck me that I ought to 

 take a description of the nest, as I might not again have such an opportunity. 

 I hope, reader, you will believe, that when I resolved to sacrifice this nest, 

 it was quite as much on your account as my own. Externally it measured 

 seven inches in length, four and a half in breadth; the thickness of its walls, 

 composed of moss and lichen, was nearly two inches; and thus it presented 

 internally the appearance of a narrow bag, the wall, however, being reduced 

 to a few lines where it was in contact with the bark of the tree. The lower 

 half of the cavity was compactly lined with the fur of the American Hare, 

 and in the bottom or bed of the nest there lay over this about half a dozen 

 of the large downy abdominal feathers of our Common Grouse, Tetrao 

 Umbellus. The eggs were of a delicate blush-colour, somewhat resembling 

 the paler leaves of a partially decayed rose, and marked with dots of reddish- 

 brown, more numerous towards the larger end. 



The nest which I found near the Mohawk was discovered by mere acci- 

 dent. One day in the beginning of June, and about noon, feeling fatigued, 

 I sat down on a rock overhanging the water, where, while resting, I might 



