28 ANORTHURA TROGLODYTES. 



gin to build until twenty minutes before eight o'clock. Be- 

 tween eight and nine they went in at the rate of two times in 

 ten minutes, with fine moss and feathers. From nine until 

 half-past eleven o'clock, they went in nine times at different 

 intervals, carrying feathers. After this they were not seen for 

 two hours and a quarter, and brought in only a few feathers in 

 the afternoon. 



" Tuesday, 6th June. — This morning, between seven and ten 

 o'clock, they carried in feathers ten times, at different intervals, 

 sometimes once, at other times twice, in ten minutes, and a 

 very few of them after ten o'clock. 



"Wednesday, 7th June. — This morning, between eight and 

 ten o'clock, they flew in with a few feathers, and then left off 

 working. 



" Thursday, 8th June. — This forenoon the nest was finished. 

 It was by far the neatest of the kind that I have seen ; and 

 little wonder, when we consider the long time which they took 

 in the erection of it. I regret that it was torn down by a cat 

 that frequented the neighbourhood. The female, which had 

 gone into it to lay her first eg^, had attracted its notice, and 

 had in all probability been devoured, as I never saw her again." 



What energy and activity on the one hand, enthusiasm and 

 resolute perseverance on the other! No man ever before so 

 gave us the history of the erection of a Wren's nest, and 

 certainly none ever watched birds wnth half the firmness of 

 my esteemed friend, who thus concludes the letter containing 

 the above. " If you have glanced over these remarks, which 

 were taken out of my note-book, I am sure that you must 

 have exclaimed, Alas ! alas ! I am afraid that my west-country 

 correspondent, poor fellow ! is now labouring under ornitho- 

 mania." Truly I made no such exclamation, for I have long 

 been aware of Mr Weir's " affection," which I believe is in- 

 curable. 



The following statement with which also I have been favour- 

 ed by him, is of great importance as elucidating the habits of 

 the AVren in a matter not previously made a subject of observa- 

 tion, namely the feeding of its young. The number of eggs 

 which it lays has been variously stated by authors. Mr Weir 



