Ci.stotliorus stellaris . 



Concord, I.Iass. Nest and eggs. 



1893. At 3 P.M. I started up river in the open canoe. 



July 20. In the little meadow just atoove Heath's Bridge I heard a 



Short -'billed Marsh Wren singing on the I4th. He v;as there a- 

 galn to-day and as I had taken my rubber boots I decided to 

 look for a nest. But first I ran the canoe into a little 

 creek and with my head just above the bank watched the meadow 

 awhile. Presently a Wren, the male, I thought, appeared fly- 

 ing low over the grass and hovering a moment above it dropped 

 out of sight. After a moment he reappeared and fleis away to 

 some distance when the song began again. Within five minutes 

 he flew back to the same spot and again disappeared in the 

 grass for a moment , then flew away again and I again heard 

 the song 50 ywftds or more distant. I was not able to trace 

 the flight of the bird with sufficient accuracy to make sure 

 that it was the same which I heard i^inging but I believe that 

 such was the case. I had marked the spot carefully and now 

 went to it. When I was within about 20 feet my eye was at- 

 tracted by a tangle of grasses which had been bent dovm and 

 intertwined leaving a slight open space above. To my delight 

 these intertwined grass blades concealed a nest w^ich contained 



Tfel. hAuv- 



four fresh eggs. The entrance hole was of nearly double^size 

 but well concealed by the grasses woven above and aroiind it. 

 Prom every side the nest presented the appearance of a green 

 tangle of fine grass. It was about fifteen inches above the 



