432 W I N T E R WREN.
Ions cry was emitted In a >word>, I had, the first time in mylife,
found the nest of Winter Wren. Having gently forced the tenant
frtfm his'premises, I drew out the eggs with a sort, of scoop which I
formed. I expected to find them numerous, but there were not.iuoro
- tlian -six, and tlic-same number I afterwards, found in th«» only other
Hfst of this: speeies ®#>iis.ecKered by m ^ ffce little bird called upon
ifsMnate,* 'and their united clamour induced me to determine upon
leaving their treasures with them;: but just a* 1 was: about going off,
.ifcSteuek me that I ought to lake a descripi ion of the :»§»; as I might
not again have such aft ¡opportunity: I hope, Header, you will believe,
thafewaend resolved tcsacrifice this flieiMt was quite as much on
your-account as my own. Mnornallv it measured i | v ,m inches in
length, four and-a half in breadth ;,the thickngs&of its walls,, composed
of moss and lichen, was nearly nvo inches ; and thus it .presented in-
. ternalk the appearance of a narrow bag, the wall, however,, being reduced,
to a few lines where it was in contact with the.bark fif the tree. ••
(
rThe lower half ;»f the cavity was compactly lined with the fur of the
American Hay and in ihe bottom <,r bed of the nest there lay over
this about half a dozen of the.large downy abdominal feathers of our
Common Grous, Tetruo Vinbellia. The, eggs were, of ^delicate blushcolour,
somewhat resembling the .paler leaves of a partially decayed
- rose, and marked with dots of reddish-brown, more numerous towards
. the larger end.
T-he nest which I found near the Mohawk was discovered by mere
accident' Qne/day in the beginning of June, and about noon, feeling
fatigued, I sat down on a rock overhanging, the water, where, while
r e s t i n p l might have, the pleasure of watching the motions of some
-fishes in sight. The dampffi.thc place produced a sudden dullness,
and caused me to Sneeze aloud, when from beneath my feet there- flew
off a Winter Wren. The nest, which I soon found, was attached
the lower parts of the rock, and present«! the same form and structure
as that already described : but it was smaller, the eggs, six in number
contained young far advanced.
The motions of this interesting bird are performed with great rapidity
and decision. While searching for food it hops, creeps, and
leaps about from one spot to another, as if it derived pleasure from
exercise. At each movement it bends its breast downward, so as almost
to touch the objoct ou which it stands, an.) by a sudden .exten-
W I N T E R WREN. 433
sion of its strong feet, aided by the action of its half drooping concave
wings, jerks itself forward, keeping its tail elevated -all the while.
Now through a hollow log it passes like a mouse, now it clings to the
surface in various attitudes, suddenly disappears, hut presently shews
itself by your side; at times it chirrups in-a querulous rolling tone, then
emits single clear sharp chirps resembling the syllables tshich, /dick,
and again remains silent for a time. It will now and then reach the
upper branches of a small tree or a bush, by hopping and leaping
from twig to twig; in the course of this transit i t will present its opposite
sides to you a score of times: -and when, at length it has gained
the summit, it will salute you with its delicate melody, and then dash
headlong and be out of sight in a moment. This is almost constantly
flbservod during the spring.season, when more than ever its alertness
is displayed. On all such occasions however, whilst in the act of singing,
its tail is'seen to be;depressed. In winter, when it takes possession
of the. Wood-pile, close to the husbandman s dwelling, it will challenge
the cat in querulous tones, and peeping out here and there, as
it frisks in security, wear out Grimalkin's patience.
The food of the Winter Wren consists chiefly of spiders, caterpillars,
a.nd small moths, as well as larvas. Towards: autumn it eats small
juicy berries.-,
Having lately spent a winter, at Charleston, in South Carolina,
with ray worthy friend JOHN BACHMAN, I observed that this little,
Wren made its appearance in that city and its suburbs in December.
On the 1st ,January I heard it in full song in the; garden ¡of my friend,
who informed me that in that State it does not appear regularly every
winter, but is sure to bo found during very colli weather.
With the view 9f.enabling, you to compare the habits of our Winter
Wren and the Common Wren of Europe, the manners of birds being a
subject on which, as you are well aware, I have always bestowed particular
attention, I here present you with those of the latter bird, as
observed in Britain, by my learned friend, WILLIAM MACGILLIVIIAY :
—" With us the Wren is not migratory, but is found during winter
in the most northern parts of the island, as well as, in, the Hebrides.
Its -flight is effected by a rapid and continuous motion of the wings, and
therefore is not undulated, but,direct; nor is it usually sustained, for
the bird merely flits from one bush to another, or from stone to stone.
IT is most frequently met with along stone-walls, among fragments of