is a cheerful, industrious little creature, with charming confidence in mankind. He also 
will esteem it a persistent vocalist, with a trilling, gushing song of much sweetness and 
considerable length. And he will be right, if he limits the bird’s possession of these good 
qualities to the breeding season. But this Wren is a bird of a dual character. While its 
household cares are upon it, the admirable traits predominate ; but when the young have 
been sent forth, it lays aside the familiarity which had so endeared it to us, withdraws to 
some remote, barren and inaccessible spot, where, songless, secluded and aloof, wholly 
transformed in demeanor, it lurks among the tangled shrubbery until the time of its final 
departure. 
195 
