192 
TROGLODYTES LUDOVICIANUS. 
make, it would seem more capable of braving’ the rigours 
of a northern climate than any of the others. It can, 
however, scarcely be called migratory. In the depth 
of winter I found it numerous in Virginia along the 
shores and banks of the James River, and its tributary 
streams, and thence as far south as Savannah. I also 
observed it on the banks of the Ogechee ; it seemed 
to be particularly attached to the borders of cypress 
swamps, deep hollows, among piles of old decaying 
timber, and by rivers and small creeks. It has all the 
restless, jerking manners of the wrens, skipping about 
with great nimbleness, hopping into caves, and dis- 
appearing into holes and crevices, like a rat, for several, 
minutes, and then reappearing in another quarter. It 
occasionally utters a loud, strong, and singular twitter, 
resembling the word chirr-rup , dwelling long and 
strongly on the first syllable ; and so loud, that I at 
first mistook it for the red bird (7. cardinalis .) It has 
also another chant, rather more musical, like “ Sweet 
William , Sweet William ,” much softer than the former. 
Though I cannot positively say, from my own observa- 
tions, that it builds in Pennsylvania, and have never 
yet been so fortunate as to find its nest; yet, from the 
circumstance of having several times observed it within 
a quarter of a mile of the Schuylkill, in the month of 
August, I have no doubt that some few breed here, and 
think it highly probable that Pennsylvania and New 
York may be the northern boundaries of their visits, 
having sought for it in vain among the States of New 
England. Its food appears to consist of those insects, 
and their larvse, that frequent low, damp caves, piles of 
dead timber, old roots, projecting banks of creeks, &c. 
It certainly possesses the faculty of seeing in the dark 
better than day birds usually do ; for I have observed 
it exploring the recesses of caves, where a good acute 
eye must have been necessary to enable it to distinguish 
its prey. 
In the southern States, as well as in Louisiana, this 
species is generally resident ; though in summer they 
are more numerous, and are found rather farther north 
