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OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 250 
HOUSE WREN, Troglodytes aedon aedon (Vieil.) 
This common bird of the garden is of general distribution in 
settled communities over the state, but is being replaced to some 
extent, in the southern part, by the Bewick’s Wren. When it nests 
away from the habitations of man, it is not by choice, but because of 
conditions. 
A pair of Wrens is a valuable asset to the garden. During the 
nesting season, when two broods, sometimes three, are reared, the 
song of the male is conspicuous. The persistence with which food 
is sought to feed the growing young, results in the destruction of 
great numbers of insect enemies of crops, particularly those affect¬ 
ing the vegetables. Boxes should be placed in shaded situations and 
not close together, since but one pair of Wrens occupy a garden. 
WARBLERS AND VIREOS 
To the uninitiated, the members of the Warbler and Vireo 
families are more or less confusing, but with better acquaintance, 
the two groups separate themselves naturally. The Warblers are 
much more active, flitting, darting, constantly in motion, while the 
Vireos are more deliberate in their movements. Both groups are 
forest dwellers, with few exceptions, and insectivorous. Some of 
the Warblers are arboreal, seldom feeding below the tops of the 
tallest trees; others are terrestrial, walking with the ease and grace 
of a partridge. 
During the month of May the tops of the forest trees, the under¬ 
growth, orchard, and tangled thicket, alike throng with the migrating 
warbler host. The migration reaches its height about the third 
week, few remaining after the first of June, except those which are 
summer residents and remain to nest. , 
Great diversity of habits, plumage and song are to be found 
among the members of this large and interesting family. They 
constitute an American family, not being represented in the Old 
World, and are of great economic importance in protecting the 
forests from insect devastation. Longfellow calls them 
“Best gems oj Nature's cabinet, 
With dews of tropic morning wet." 
BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER. Miniotilta varia (Linn.) 
This Warbler is also known as the Black and White Creeper, 
which term describes the color and habit of the bird. It is a rare 
summer resident, of local distribution, found only in woodlands; but 
during the migration it is common and may be found in parks, 
orchards or on shade trees of towns. Its manner of feeding is 
identical with that of the Nuthatch. The song of this species is 
