Evening star., 1944-02-28
This and That
RI Charles T. Tr1ce1peu


A correspondent wishes to know about
the Carolina wren. This is one of the
largest wrens, and sometimes comes
to this locality in fall and winter.
It is a beautiful rusty brown bird. with
under parts of buffy white. The bill Is
shorter than the head and curved down.
ward. ~
Owing to its size and rich brown
color this wren is sometimes mistaken
for a wood thrush There Is q white
line which seems to run through the
eye, and this is one Of its surest identi-
fication marks. 1t has the typical wren
tail.
The song of the Carolina wren seems
to go round and round. 1t has been
described as musical pinwheel.
To our correspondent 1t seemd to
be saying sweetheart, sweetheart,
sweetheart" but to others it says just
as plainly "get a penny, get penny,
get penny" and to still others it says
don't you do it, don't you do it, don't
you do it."
The song is extremely loud and some
times Incorporates phrases from the
cardinals song and the call of the
titmouse
The Carolina wren is by nature cave
dweller; that is, it nests normally in
the hollows of trees. In recent years,
however, it nests almost anywhere, even
in grape baskets or an old wash basin.
A famous story about a Carolina
wren is that of mother bird which
made her nest in a basket which she
found just under the ridgepole inside
barn.
She did not know that the basket
had been put there by the farmer to
hold some sticks of dynamite.
She built her nest around the .dyna-
mite, and deposited her eggs.
While she was incubating the eggs
the farmer discovered her and removed
the dynamite which he replaced with
paper, whereupon the bird deserted the
nest. We have always wondered if this
paper was white. Many species of birds
are afraid of anything white. Probably
that is why nature so often colors and
spots their eggs.
Carolina wrens are found through
out the South, where it eats many boil
weevils
In Florida there is a wren much like
1t but even larger. It is said to be
found only in the peninsula south of
the Suwannee River.
We do not know of any food which
would lure the Carolina wren at this
time Of year unless it is the meal worm.
Meal worms may be purchased by
the thousands at most pet stores, or
they may be grown at home by placing
a few IN some old meal or -four and
keeping 1t covered with a damp cloth,
II a batch of these worms were dis
played so that the sharp eyes of the
wren could see them he no doubt would
ny over to investigate, since his natural
foods are none too abundant hereabouts
at this time of year.
A little canary bird seed might be
tried. A small piece of suet perhaps
would be attractive.
This Is very busy bird, so no one
should be surprised If he does not come
to any food put out for him.
II he usually calls at given time,
the food should be placed just prior
to this because it will also attract other
species, notably the threes city birds,
the English sparrow, the starting and
the pigeon.
X X X
Our correspondent want to know if
q roof is good feeding station.
A roof, If it Is not too slanting, makes
very good bird feeding place. The
birds are safe from cats, dogs and man,
and especially from that great curse,
modern traffic.
One drawback will be the difficulty of
Keeping such a place clean If seeds are
used, since these are usually shelled out
and the husks left.
Since this correspondent admits not
having seen the bird, there should be
no surprise If the Carolina wren" turns
out to be a cardinal, after all. He is
now singing his spring song, and to
many listeners 1t sounds like Sweet
heart" three times repeated, although
to us It more resembles what cheer"
or come ere"