EUROPEAN WREN. 25 



in bundles of leaves nearly as bulky as herself. To her beloved 

 partner she seemed to give ecstatic delight, for he sat upon the 

 branch of a Portugal laurel a few feet above her, viewing most 

 anxiously her operations, and now and then having mounted 

 to the top of a plane tree, he poured forth his distinct and 

 sweetly modulated notes, which during the day he continued 

 to do almost incessantly. To her he gave but little assistance, 

 thinking no doubt that his song, ' with all the little blandish- 

 ments and soothing arts,"" was sufficient to alleviate her fatigues, 

 and to support her under them. That singing produces general 

 excitement, and a power of more energetic performance in all 

 the labours which the birds can undertake, is indeed an opinion 

 entertained by some naturalists. Between eight and nine 

 o'clock she was most actively employed, for during the space 

 of ten minutes, she sometimes carried in four, five, and even 

 six bundles of leaves, in the selection of which she seemed to 

 be very careful, for I observed that after she had minutely 

 examined them, when they did not seem to suit her purpose, 

 she let them drop. I was surprised at the quantity which she 

 collected for the foundation of her nest. After having rendered 

 it compact by pressing the leaves with her breast, and turning 

 herself round upon them in all directions, she began to rear its 

 sides. In this operation, however, she was not so expeditious, 

 as she was under the necessity of flying to a greater distance 

 for materials, in the search of which she sometimes remained 

 out eight and ten minutes. From the inside she built the under 

 part of the aperture with the stalks of leaves which she felted 

 together very ingeniously with moss. The upper part of it 

 was constructed solely with the last mentioned material. To 

 round it, and give it the requisite solidity, she pressed it with 

 her breast and wings, and turned her body in different direc- 

 tions. Most wonderful to tell, about seven o'clock in the even- 

 ing, the whole external workmanship of this snug little build- 

 ing was almost complete. Being very anxious to examine the 

 interior of it, I went out for that purpose at half-past two 

 o'clock next morning. I introduced my finger, and so close 

 was it, that it resisted some very heavy showers of rain. Should 

 any one wish to have his cars delighted with the sweet melody 



