A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS 
595 
the House Wren is a prolific breeder, frequently rearing from 
twelve to sixteen young in a season, a family of these birds 
must cause considerable reduction in the number of insects in 
a garden. Wrens are industrious foragers, searching every 
tree, shrub, or vine for caterpillars, examining every post and 
rail of the fence, and every cranny in the wall for insects or 
spiders. They do not, as a rule, fly far afield, but work near 
home, and if suitable nesting boxes are provided them they may 
be induced to stay where they will do the most good. Almost 
anything will serve for a house, an old cigar box, a tomato can, 
a teapot, or a boot. 
It does not seem possible to have too many Wrens, and 
every effort should be made to protect them and encourage 
them to nest about the house. 
Winter Wren : Troglodytes hiemalis. W. V. 
Length: 3.90-4.10 inches. 
Male and Female: Color very similar to House Wren, but the under 
parts rusty, dimly and finely barred with dark. Tail and bill 
short, the latter dark, and slender ; feet dark. 
Song: Strong and very musical; not often heard here. Call note, 
“ tr-r-r-r-r-r.” 
Season: Winter resident, arriving often in October. A summer resi- 
dent of northern New England. 
Nest: In odd nooks, crevices, logs, etc. Of twigs mixed with moss, 
hair, and feathers. 
Eggs: 5-8, pure white, finely dotted with purple and brown. 
Long after the last House Wren has left his box, and his 
scolding wife Jenny has given up housekeeping and started 
on a summer outing for her health, you will see a tiny, brown 
bird hopping about the brush-heap or wood-pile. If you do not 
think much about it you will mistake the bird for a House 
Wren, but if you have an eye for size you will see that it is 
smaller, and when the snow comes, and the merry little bird 
is still there, you may be sure that it is the Winter Wren, the 
second of the three “ littlest ” American birds. 
Last year a Winter Wren with only one leg spent the 
winter with us, and it was a lesson in patience to see how 
bravely he held his own against wind and weather and hopped 
about steadying himself with his wings. 
