EUROPEAN WREN. 23 



But Mr Wood relates a very curious fact respecting the Wren, 

 which is that it " often builds itself a dwelling in autumn, and 

 lodges in it on cold nights. These nests," he continues, " are 

 mostly constructed in the usual localities, though I once found 

 one situated in an old Garden Thrush's nest, in a Portugal 

 laurel. Frequently, also, the nests in which one or two broods 

 had been reared in summer, are tenanted every night through- 

 out the winter." 



On this subject Mr Weir has sent me the following remarks. 

 " ' During the period of incubation, the male' (says an anony- 

 mous writer in Mr Loudon's Magazine) ' apparently from a de- 

 sire to be doing something, constructs as many as half a dozen 

 nests in the vicinity of the first, none of which are lined with 

 feathers ; and whilst the first nest is so artfully concealed as to 

 be seldom found, the latter are very frequently seen.' With 

 respect to the use of these structures, or cock-nests, as they are 

 called in England, if we believe that birds, like some insects, 

 have foresight, a more ingenious theory might be advanced. 

 During the severity of winter they may be intended as houses 

 of refuge for them and their families. Whether this be always 

 the case or not, it will be difficult to ascertain. That they are 

 however sometimes employed for this purpose I can affirm, as 

 the whole of those in my neighbourhood, during the late severe 

 frosty weather (of 1887-8) were occupied by them. I have 

 one of these nests in my possession, in which they lodged, and 

 in which there was a quantity of their droppings." The Wren 

 being a very diminutive bird might be supposed to require this 

 kind of shelter in winter, w^ere it not that the Kinglets and 

 Tits, equally small, are not known to lodge in their nests. Our 

 little friend is a Troglodyte, a frequenter of holes and caverns, 

 and as it always reposes at night in some sheltered retreat, it 

 may occasionally or often betake itself to its old nest as well as 

 to any other place, as that nest is well fitted for its purpose ; 

 but there seems no reason for supposing that this is habitual 

 with all wrens, many of which, in the wilder parts of the 

 country, and in the Hebrides, desert their summer habitations 

 and in winter reside about the farm yards. 



On the 21st of February 1839, he again writes : — " I 



