194 
TROGLODYTES PALUSTRIS- 
145 . TROGLODYTES PALVSTltlS, BONAPARTE. 
CERTniA PALUSTRISf WILSON. — MARSH WREN. 
WILSON, PLATE XH. FIG. IV 
This obscure but spirited little species lias 
almost overlooked by the naturalists of Europe, as ' ^ 
as by those of its own country. The marsh nreu a'’'"' 
in Pennsylvania about the middle of May, or as 
the reeds and a species of uymphea, usually called sfkj 
terdocks, which grow in great luxuriance along the 
w-ater of our rivers, are sufficiently high to sheltf 
To such places it almost wholly limits its excurs'^^ 
seldom venturing far from the river. Its food eo"' jj 
of llyiug insects, and their larvie, and a species of r*^ 
grasshoppers that inhabit the reeds. As to its 
it would be mere burlesque to call them by the 
song. Standing on the reedy borders of the SchuP 
or Delaware, in the month of June, you hear a ' 
crackling sound, something similar to that jirodiic® 
air bubbles forcing their way through mud or baij^, 
ground when trod upon ; this is the song of the 
wren. But as, among the human race, it is not 
to one man to excel in every thing, and yet 
perhaps, has something peculiarly his own ; so, a®' ,,1- 
birds, we find a like distribution of talents and 
liarities. The little bird now before us, if delicieuf 
contemptible in singing, excels in the art of desigO' 
constructs a nest, ndiich, in durability, n-arnith, 
convcnien<!e, is scarcely inferior to one, and far 
to many, of its more musical brethren. This is j^r 
outn ardly of wet rushes mi.xed with mud, well i® y 
twisted, and fashioned into the form of a cocoa 
small hole is left two-thirds up, for entrance, the 
edge of which projects like a pent-house over the f®.- 
to prevent the admission of rain. The inside is ^ 
with fine soft gras.s, and sometimes feathers ; 
outside, when hardened by the sun, resists every 
of weather. This nest is generally suspended a y 
the reeds, above the reach of the highest tides, ai 
