size and shape, and, except in size, approach even closer to those of the Great Carolina Wren. The 
nest alone it would be difficult to distinguish from uncovered nests of T. cedon, but the eggs are not 
nearly so thickly marked. Normal specimens of each can be always differentiated. The House Wren, 
however, sometimes lays eggs very similar to typical eggs of Bewick’s Wren. 
REMARKS : 
The nest and eggs represented on Plate XLII were taken May 17tli, 1882, from a barn near the 
Chillicothe and Londonderry road, nine miles from the former place. Its history is as follows: Upon the 
day and at the place mentioned above, having a few leisure moments, I entered an old barn, unused 
except to store away grain and hay, in search of a House Wren’s nest. At different points on the 
ground-floor, four large hand-hewed oak timbers answered the place of supporting columns for the floor 
above. In one of these I observed a mortise-hole, about seven feet high, and from it protruding a few 
straws and small sticks. Supposing this to be a House Wren’s home, I put my finger into it, and, 
finding four eggs, drew the nest from the hole. As I did not expect to be in the neighborhood again, I 
had decided at once to take it even with an incomplete set of eggs. When I saw the nest and its con- 
tents, I concluded it must be an exceptional specimen or that it belonged to some other species. Up to 
this time no bird had appeared to claim it, so I retired to a secluded place and waited all the time I 
could spare, but the owner did not return. I then searched the premises around the barn, and was 
gratified at finding a pair of Wrens which I thought belonged to the species T. bewkki, and the probable 
builders of the nest in my hand. So I left the place with a doubtful specimen. Three weeks later I 
revisited the barn, and, to my delight, found a new and similar nest in the same mortise-hole, and a 
pair of Wrens near by. I had a good view of them, and convinced myself that the birds before me 
were not House Wrens, but were Bewick’s Wrens. As the nest was yet empty, I left it determined to 
go back again in ten days prepared to shoot its occupant, in order to satisfy myself perfectly as to the 
species. At the proposed time I returned with my gun, and was greatly disappointed at seeing the nest 
and broken eggs upon the floor, and no Wrens about. Upon inquiry I learned that some children had 
just a few days before destroyed the home. Again, later, I returned to the spot, but the objects of my 
search had left the local ity, or at least could not be discovered. 
Now, while there is no positive evidence that the nest and eggs figured is that of Bewick’s Wren, 
I firmly believe it to be. It is true, I had never seen a live Bewick’s Wren up to this time, nor 
did I see upon the nest either of the birds supposed to be Bewick’s Wrens. But, taking every thing 
into consideration, I am quite positive of the identity of the specimen illustrated, I have not hesitated, 
therefore, to have it appear in the present work, although T am well aware that, by some, a doubt may 
be cast upon its authenticity, and that it may be considered only an exceptional example of the nest and 
eggs of the House Wren. 
144 
