ECONOMIC KELATIONS OF OUR BIRDS. 
491 
Wren is especially fitted to do work among the shrubbery of orchards, gardens 
and yards, and these, particularly, should be the foci of its labois. 
Food: From three specimens were taken seven caterpillars; from two, nine 
beetles; and from one, a grasshopper. 
Insects and their larvae (Wils.). Insects, their larvae, and spiders (Samuels). 
Four specimens examined by Prof. Forbes contained only beetles and hemip- 
tera. The beetles were ground-beetles and Hydrophilidae. 
21. Anorthura troglodytes hyemalis (Wils.), Coues. WINTER WREN. 
Group I. Class b. 
In the northern portion of the state among the heavy timber, where this species 
is common, it is a summer resident. In this region it frequents the line of the 
Wisconsin Central Railroad, and often affects the large piles of slabs that are 
drawn out from the saw-rnffls. In the southern portion of the state it only 
occurs during its migrations. 
Food: Of three specimens examined one had eaten three ants; one, a geo- 
metrid caterpillar; one, three beetles; and one a dragon-fly. 
Insects and their larvae (Wils.). Prof. Forbes found in one stomach evidence of 
ants, moths, caterpillars, ground-beetles, rove-beetles, diptera, day-flies and 
spiders. 
22. Telmatodytes palustris (Bartr.), Cab. LONG-BILLED MARSH WREN. 
Group I. Class b. 
As the name of this species implies, it is a denizen of marshy tracts, and in all 
of these places it is an abundant summer resident. Its broods are two; and its 
eggs six or eight in number. It loves best the swampy borders of streams, 
lakes, and ponds, where coarse sedges, reeds and wild rice abound, but it also 
frequents the adjoining wet meadows. 
Food: Of fourteen specimens examined one ate one ant; one, a caterpillar; 
one, three beetles; three, three moths; one, a small grasshopper; one, five grass¬ 
hopper eggs; one, one dragon-fly; and one a small snail. 
According to others, flying insects and their larvae, and a small green giass- 
hopper which inhabits the reeds (Wilson), Aquatic insects and dimunitive 
mollusks (Audubon). Entirely insects captured at rest (Cooper). 
23. CiSTOTHORUS STELLARIS (LIGHT.), Cab. SHORT-BILLED MARSH WREN. 
Group I. Class b. 
This Wren is a common summer resident with us, but far less abundant than 
its lono'-billed cousin. Although it affects situations similar to those of the last 
species* it is, on the whole, a more upland bird. I have never found its nest in 
wet sloughs, but always in low damp meadows, where no water stands during 
the summer. It rears two broods each season. The second, which appears late 
in July, or early in August, is often unavoidably destroyed when the grass is cut. 
and this fact doubtless accounts, in part, for its less abundance with us than the 
last species. 
The Short-billed Wren is smaller than the last species, but its place of nesting 
lends to its services a greater comparative value. It is almost wholly insect¬ 
ivorous, and the smallest bird which frequents meadows. For this reason it is 
especially to be encouraged. Late haying in their breeding haunts would prob- 
