478 
WRENS 
at the larger end, *65 x *51. Date , White Sulphur Springs, Va., Apl. 27; 
D. C., May 1; Cambridge, May 25; se. Minn., May 19. 
It has been claimed that the name House Wren is a misnomer, 
because in the South during the winter these birds are found in the for- 
ests miles from the nearest habitation. This, however, is owing to 
circumstances over which the House Wren has no control. He is just 
as much of a House Wren in the south as he is in the north; you will 
find a pair in possession of every suitable dwelling. The difficulty is 
that in the winter there are more House Wrens than there are houses, 
and, being of a somewhat irritable disposition, the House Wren will not 
share his quarters with others of his kind. Late comers, therefore, 
who can not get a snug nook about a house or outbuilding, are forced 
to resort to the woods. 
In the summer, when they are spread over a much greater area, 
House Wrens are very particular in their choice of haunts, and for 
this reason are locally distributed. Having selected a nesting-site, they 
become much attached to it, and return to the same place year after 
year. It may be a bird-box, a crevice in a building, a hollow in an 
apple tree, or hole in a fence rail ; wherever it is, it is theirs, and they will 
fight for it against all comers. 
The song of the House Wren is delivered with characteristic energy — - 
a sudden outpouring of music which completely dominates the singer, 
who with raised head and drooped tail trembles with the violence of 
his effort. 
1905. Herrick, F. H., Home Life of Wild Birds, 38-44. 
721a. T. ae. parkmani ( And .). Western House Wren. Similar 
to T. aedon aedon but grayer, bars above usually more distinct; black bars 
of tail usually more or less margined posteriorly with grayish or buffy; 
flanks less rusty. 
Range. — W. N. Am. Breeds in lower Canadian and Transition zones 
from s. B. C., n. Alberta, cen. Sask., and s. Man., s. to L. Calif., s. Ariz., 
sw. Tex., s. Mo., and s. Ills.; winters from Calif, and Tex. southward to Mex. 
SE. Minn., common T. V., Apl. 26-Sept. 18. 
722. Nanxms hiemalis hiemalis (Vieill.). Winter Wren. Ads . — 
Tail very short; a cinnamon-buff line over eye; upperparts dark, nearly 
uniform cinnamon-brown; back indistinctly barred; feathers of the rump 
with concealed, downy white spots; wings and tail barred; underparts cin- 
namon-buff; flanks and belly heavily barred with black. L., 4*06; W., 1*89; 
T., 1*24; B., *35. 
Range. — E. N. Am. Breeds in Canadian zone from cen. Alberta, s. Man., 
n. Ont., n. Que., and N. F., s. to cen. Minn., n. Wise., cen. Mich., and Mass., 
and through the Alleghanies to N. C.; winters from about its s. breeding 
limit to Tex. and n. Fla. 
Washington, rather common W. V., Aug. 10-May 1. Ossining, tolerably 
common W. V., Sept. 18- Apl. 27. Cambridge, T. V., uncommon, Sept. 20- 
Nov. 25; rare, Apl. 10-25; a very few winter. N. Ohio, tolerably common 
W. V., Sept. 14-May 17. Glen Ellyn, fairly common, T. V., Apl. 1-May 10; 
Sept. 9-Nov. 7. SE. Minn., common T. V., rare W. V., Sept. 22-Apl. 3. 
Nest , of small twigs and moss, lined with feathers, in the roots of a tree, 
brush-heap, or similar place. “Eggs, 5-7, white or creamy white, finely but 
