276 
SINGING BIRDS. 
BEWICK’S WREN. 
LONG-TAILED HOUSE WREN. 
Thryothorus BEWICKU. 
Char. Above, chestnut brown ; wings and tail with dark bars; buff 
stripe over eye; below, dull white; flanks brown. Length 5 to .5% 
inches. 
Nest. Almost anywhere. In settled districts it is usually built in a 
crevice of a house or barn ; but in the woods a hollow tree or stump is 
selected, or a clump of bushes. Composed of a mass of leaves, grass, etc., 
roughly put together. 
Eggs. 4-7 ; white or with pink tint, thickly marked with fine spots of 
reddish brown and purple ; 0.65 X 0.50. 
For the discovery of this beautiful species of Wren, appar- 
ently allied to the preceding, with which it seems nearly to 
agree in size, we are indebted to the indefatigable Audubon, in 
whose splendid work it is for the first time figured. It was 
observed by its discoverer, towards the approach of winter, in 
the lower part of Louisiana. Its manners are very similar to 
those of other species, but instead of a song, at this season it 
only uttered a low twitter. 
Dr. Bachman found this species to be the most prevalent of 
any other in the mountains of Virginia, particularly about the 
Salt Sulphur Springs, where they breed and pass the season. 
The notes bear some resemblance to those of the Winter Wren, 
being scarcely louder or more connected. From their habit of 
prying into holes and hollow logs they are supposed to breed in 
such situations. Mr. Trudeau believes that they breed in I .oui- 
siana. In the marshy meadows of the Wahlamet Mr. Townsend 
and myself frequently saw this species, accompanied by the 
young, as early as the month of May. At this time they have 
much the habit and manners of the Marsh Wren, and probably 
nest in the tussocks of rank grass in which we so frequently 
saw them gleaning their prey. They were now shy, and rarely 
seen in the vicinity of our camp. 
Bewick’s Wren is abundant along the Mississippi valley, but is 
rarely seen east of the Alleghanies or north of latitude 40°. 
