THE YOUNG OOLOGIST. 



31 



Wrens on the War Path 



Of the pugnacity of the Wren there is 

 no doubt, but I never observed such cases 

 of outrageous impudence in this great in- 

 sect destroyer before. 



Xear here, in a bird house against a 

 building, a blue-bird had in peace built its 

 nest, and deposited five eggs ; but this was 

 distined not. long so to be, for a Wren 

 having no doubt settled upon the same 

 place as it future nur.sery, one day in the 

 bluf-birds absence, proceeded to lay the 

 structure in ruins forthwith ; entering the 

 house stealthily, it thrust its bill into each 

 egg, carried them outside and dropped 

 them to the roof below ; proceeding then 

 to carry out the sticks he was driven away, 

 with much scolding, however, and the 

 blue-bird arrived in time to see the said 

 distruction of its treasures. Hither and 

 thithi.'r it darted, utleriiig alternately angry 

 and agonizing cries, doubtless in .search of 

 the depredator, but after sorrowfully ex- 

 amining its nest, it flew away and was 

 seen no more. Tin- Wren is now carrying 

 out the old materials and carrying in the 

 new for it-; own nest, ever aud anon giving 

 utterance to triumphant songs, no doubt 

 referring to its own valor. 



If the English Sparrow " must go," give 

 the Wren commission, involving full power 

 to kick him out. Four pairs of English 

 Sparrows liaving appropriated a bird-house 

 of four compartments for their own use, 

 proceeded to construct their nests with all 

 expedition, for they were rather late, when 

 about half finished, a Wren constituted 

 itself a committee to investigate, which 

 investigation did not seem very satisfac- 

 tory, judging from the waj' he scolded 

 those sparrows ; they did not pay much 

 attention to his protestations but con- 

 tinued, amid storms of abuse to construct 

 their nests. At last, one of the middle 

 ne>ts contained one egg and, at the same 

 time, the Wren's patience seemed ex- 

 hausted ; the Wren with many angry 

 chirps and much eccentric hopping ar9und, 

 finally and fiercely delivered his proclama- 

 tion iif war. at the same time with a flank 



movement and a bold dash invading the 

 obnoxious ones retreat, thrust his bill in 

 the egg and threw it to the ground. This 

 was a signal for a battle, the Wren in the 

 box peeping out made such a racket as 

 only a Wren can make (1 wish I could 

 have understood him), while the sparrows 

 beseiged him from the outside ; soon the 

 Sparrows flew off, and the Wren, boiling 

 over with wrath, commenced throwing 

 sticks, feathers, everythsng out with an 

 angry flirt, scolding all the while as se- 

 verely as he could. Soon six sparrows re- 

 turned, and taking him unawares, cut off 

 his retreat and compelled him to evacuate, 

 but disputing every inch of ground. JIany 

 such encounters occurred — the Wren hav- 

 ing the majority of victories on its side. 



At present, affairs stand thus : as fast as 

 as the Sparrows carry material in the Wren 

 picks it out, carrying in material for itself 

 at the same time; the other compartments 

 are left undisturbed, but why the Wren 

 should build its nest among such neigh- 

 bors, especially as they now seem to agree, 

 is more than I can imagine. I am anxious- 

 ly awaiting further developments. 

 H. K. Laxdis, 

 Landls Valley, Pa. 



Nest c f the Golden-Winged Warbler. 



( llitiiiiidhaphagn C/jrsojiteni). 

 In the early part of June of tlie past 

 year, as I was passing through a piece of 

 low second growth woodland, I flushed a 

 small bird, of whioh, however. I got only 

 a glimpse as she darted from a clump of 

 tall weeds into the thick foliage of some 

 underwood that partially overhung the 

 spot. A momentary' search among the 

 weeds revealed the nest, which contained 

 one egg. The nest was placed upon the 

 ground, but among and sheltered by the 

 weeds. There was first a strata of dry 

 weeds, then a rude formation of dry leaves 

 and inside of this the true nest was placed; 

 this was composed of small stalks of dry 

 weeds, vines, anil rootlets, being about two 

 inches in diameter, by one and a half in 

 depth. An exaniiiKition of this nest, with 



