62 GREAT CAROLINA WREN. 



rigors of a northern climate than any of the others. It can, however, 

 scarcely be called migratory. In the depth of winter I fomid it nu- 

 merous in Virginia along the shores and banks of the James river 

 and its tributary streams, and thence as far south as Savannah. I 

 also observed it on the banks of the Ogechee ; it seemed to be par- 

 ticularly attached to the borders of Cypress swamps, deep hollows 

 among piles of old decaying timber, and by rivers and small creeks. 

 It has all the restless jerking manners of the Wrens, skipping about 

 with great nimbleness, hopping into caves, and disappearing into 

 holes and crevices like a rat, for several minutes, and then re- 

 appearing in another quarter. It occasionally utters a loud, strong, 

 and singular twitter, resembling the word chirr-rup, dwelling long 

 and strongly on the first syllable ; and so loud that I at first mis- 

 took it for the Red-bird, L. cardinalis. It has also another chant, 

 rather more musical, like " Sweet William, Sweet William/' much 

 softer than the former. Tho I cannot positively say, from my own 

 observations, that it builds in Pennsylvania, and have never yet 

 been so fortunate as to find its nest ; yet, from the circumstance of 

 having several times observed it within a quarter of a mile of the 

 Schuylkill, in the month of August, I have no doubt that some few 

 breed here, and think it highly probable that Pennsylvania and 

 New York may be the northern boundaries of their visits, having 

 sought for it in vain among the states of New England. Its food 

 appears to consist of those insects and their larvae that frequent 

 low damp caves, piles of dead timber, old roots, projecting banks 

 of creeks, &c. &c. It certainly possesses the faculty of seeing in 

 the dark better than day birds usually do; for I have observed it 

 exploring the recesses of caves, where a good acute eye must have 

 been necessary to enable it to distinguish its prey. 



In the southern states, as well as in Louisiana, this species is 

 generally resident; tho in summer they are more numerous, and 

 are found rather farther north than in winter. In this last season 

 their chirrupping is frequently heard in gardens soon after day- 



