EUROPEAN WREN. 27 



get admittance. They commenced their work at half-past eight, 

 between which time and ten o'clock they went in at the rate of 

 five times in eight minutes. The male frequently assisted the 

 female this morning, and every time that he did it, he mounted 

 to the top of the nearest tree, and proclaimed aloud his note 

 of self-approbation. From ten till a quarter past eleven o'clock, 

 they went in about three times in the course of ten minutes, 

 carrying very small quantities of fine moss. She then flew off 

 with her husband, and remained almost the same space of time 

 that she had done yesterday, for she did not return to her 

 nest until about half-past one o'clock. From this time until 

 half-past two o'clock, when they ceased from their labour, they 

 frequently brought in fine moss and feathers. 



" Friday, 2d June. — This morning, between five and seven 

 o'clock, the male sang almost incessantly. They did not begin 

 to build until half-past nine o'clock, when they went in with fine 

 moss and feathers, sometimes once in ten, at other times once 

 in fifteen and twenty minutes. About half-past eleven, she flew 

 off with the male, and did not return until about a quarter be- 

 fore two o'clock. They carried in fine moss and feathers only 

 a few times after this. Whilst I was anxiously watching their 

 motions in the midst of a very thick arbor-vitas tree, about nine 

 feet from their nest, the female, which was sitting at the door 

 of it, having noticed me, set up her cry of alarm. The male 

 upon hearing it appeared to be in a state of great irritation. I 

 immediately ran off to some distance, pursued by the little 

 creatures, which were scolding me with great vehemence. 



" Saturday, 3d June. — Between six and eleven o'clock, they 

 brought in a few feathers and some moss. They then dis- 

 appeared until half-past one o'clock, when they took in a few 

 more feathers, and then rested from their work. 



" On Sunday morning, 4th June, between eight and nine 

 o'clock, as I was going to feed a pair of goldfinches which I 

 kept in the tool-house of my garden, I saw the female fly in 

 twice with feathers. 



" On Monday morning I examined the nest. They appeared 

 to have carried in the same quantity of materials as they had 

 done on Saturday. This morning, 5th June, they did not be- 



