84 THE USEFUL BIRDS 



the intense pugnacity of the mated males. From the time 

 the young are driven off till long after the next brood is out 

 all trespassing Wrens of either sex are persecuted. 



In Mr. Graham's garden a male Wren proved a nuisance. 

 It was impossible to give one of his caged Wrens the benefit 

 of air and shade outside. lie was thus obUged to keep it 

 indoors and cover the windows with fine wire-netting, so as 

 to protect the caged bird from the incessant attacks of the 

 free bird. Should he have neglected to close the door whilst 

 looking into the cage to see how the changes of plumage were 

 progressing, the tormentor was sure to fly past his head and 

 hang on to the wire of the cage till driven away. Constant 

 chasing seemed to make no difference. It never missed an 

 opportunity for an attack. Its own nest being situated in a 

 gooseberry bush just opposite the door, it was always ready 

 to enforce what seems to me to be the law, that no Wrens 

 may come within a certain distance of the breeding-place. 



In wet districts October is the breeding month. In select- 

 ing a site for the nest the female is chiefly concerned with 

 securing a place somewhat removed from other Wrens. Ideal 

 nesting- places are small detached portions of cover situated 

 a short distance from the main cover, and all the better if 

 they contain plenty of tussocky grass. 



When the young are old enough to make an outcry if dis- 

 turbed, the time is opportune to witness a display of pug- 

 nacity and courage on the part of the male. 



It does not flutter or utter alarm notes like the female, but 

 at the first cry of its young goes silently and swiftly to the 

 attack, with its little body crouched, its wings and tail 

 depressed, and its blue mantle standing out like a ruff. It 

 moves quickly along the twigs, or over the ground after the 

 manner of a mouse, making angry darts at the intruder till 

 the latter retires. 



Nest-building occupies the female a part of each of six days, 



