22 : The Carolina Wren; a year of its life. [ January 
mined forthwith to study its habits, as opportunity presented, for 
the little that I find recorded of it is far from satisfactory. l 
What might be the attraction in the stable was my first obj 
to determine, for I did not suppose it had a nest so late td 
season, and I had not noticed the bird particularly dug A 
summer months, although I knew they were in the nes zhb 
hood. A protracted search failed, indeed, in finding any “ 
but while I was wandering about I was surprised to see Be wre 
enter the building and proceed immediately to search for spiders 
which hitherto were abundant in every nook and corner, but now 
were comparatively scarce. Once the bird alighted upon the 
back of a horse standing in its stall, and while there quietl 
preened its feathers, as much as a wren ever deigns to do thi 
and then with a shrill chirp, that startled the animal, away it fle 
in search of more spiders. 
Late in the afternoon of the same day I again saw the wr 
enter the stable and pass directly through the mow-hole to th 
hay-loft overhead. 1 followed and found that the bird had take 
possession of a barn-swallow’s nest, and here it was keepin 
bachelor’s hall. The nest was placed against a rafter, near th 
peak of the roof, and was quite inaccessible to cats. This pro! 
ably the wren did not consider. It is a sly cat that ever catches. 
awren napping. The bird did not like my discovering his hidi 
place, or at least was annoyed by my inquisitiveness. It circl 
about me several times, snapping its beak I thought, and chirped 
an eansusly emphatic /sip, which I took to be the wrennish for 
“ damn.” 
All through the mellow September days, early and late, the 
clear notes of this wren were to be heard, and through October, 
and long after every summer songster had departed, I heard them 
daily and many times a day, 
During the autumn there was little to note with regard to the 
bird’s habits. The insects in the stable and outbuildings afforded 
it a sufficient food supply, but during exceptionally warm al 
sunny days it made frequent visits to a wooded slope near by, at 
there, among the giant oaks and chestnuts, it seemed more lively 
and full of song than when nearer home. 
__ A few words with reference to the character of its song. Every 
utterance is sharply defined by a peculiarity that belongs only to 
this bird. I think I should know the bird, by its voice, where 
I might hear it. 
