424 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 



House Wren in thus claiming the convenience and pro- 

 tection of human society, that according to Wilson, an 

 instance once occurred where a nest was made in the 

 sleeve of a mower's coat, which, in the month of June, 

 was hung up accidentally for two or three days in a shed 

 near a ba ii. 



The nest of this species, though less curious than that 

 of some other kinds, is still constructed with considera- 

 ble appearance of contrivance. The external approach 

 is barricaded with a strong outwork of sticks inter- 

 laced with much labor and ingenuity. When the nest 

 therefore is placed beneath the eaves, or in some other 

 situation contisruous to the roof of the buildinof, the 

 access to the inner fabric is so nearly closed by this 

 formidable mass of twigs, that a mere portion of the 

 edge is alone left open for the female, just sufficient 

 for her to creep in and out. Within this judicious fort is 

 placed the proper nest, of the usual hemispherical figure, 

 formed of layers of dried stalks of grass and lined with 

 feathers. The eggs, from 6 to 9, are of a reddish flesh- 

 color, sprinkled all over with innumerable fine grains of a 

 somewhat deeper tint. They generally rear two broods 

 in the season ; the first take to flight about the beginning 

 of June, and the second in July, or August. The young 

 are early capable of providing for their own subsistence, 

 and twittering forth their petulent cry of alarm. It 

 is both pleasant and amusing to observe the sociability 

 and activity of these recent nurslings, who seem to move 

 in a body, throwing themselves into antic attitudes, 

 often crowding together into the old nests of other birds, 

 and for some time roosting near their former cradle, 

 under the affectionate eye of their busy parents, who 

 have perhaps already begun to prepare the same nest for 

 a new progeny. Indeed, so prospective and busy is 



