Plate XLII. 
THRYO MANES BEWICKI-Bewick's Wren. 
This species was discovered and named in the year 1821 by Mr. Audubon, but nothing was known 
of its breeding habits until 1844. According to “North American Birds,” Mr. Baird, in this year, dis- 
covered its nest and eggs. Mr. Quick, of Brook ville, Indiana, found a nest and eggs at that place a few 
years ago, but so far as I am aware it has never been found nesting in Ohio until the present season 
(1882). There are reasons to suspect that in the southern portion of the state this species is not an 
infrequent summer resident, but, if so, it has escaped observation. Where observed, its time of arrival 
and departure is about the same as the House Wren’s, and two or three broods are reared during the 
summer. The following notes are compiled from various authorities and are doubtless correct for this 
state as well as for those in which the bird is plentiful. 
LOCALITY: 
Barns, stables, and out-houses of every description are frequented for nesting. Stumps, brush-heaps, 
hollow trees, fence-rails, and similar places are also selected at times. The country is preferred to the town. 
POSITION: 
The nest usually rests upon an horizontal surface, and is, almost invariably, placed in a box, can, 
mortise-hole, or some snug little nook into which the birds can creep, having in this respect the same 
habit as the House Wren. 
MATEPJALS : 
Sticks, straws, bark, rootlets, leaves, strings, paper, rags, wool, hair, cobweb, and feathers, in various 
combinations and proportions, are the materials of construction. The foundation and superstructure are 
made principally of straws and small sticks; the lining is usually composed of soft feathers from the 
poultry-yard. The cavity is generally open above, measuring in diameter about two and one-fourth inches 
and in depth about one and seven-eighths inches. The external dimensions vary with situation. 
EGGS: 
The complement of eggs varies from four to six or seven. They measure in long-diameter from .60 
to .68, and in short-diameter from .48 to .54. A common size is .49 x .64. They are spotted and speckled 
with reddish-brown, sparingly about the point but plentifully toward the crown, where the marks are often 
confluent forming a wreath. The deep shell-marks are purplish. 
DIFFERENTIAL POINTS : 
The nest and eggs of Bewick’s Wren resemble veiy closely some specimens of the House Wren’s in 
143 
