80 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS 



to make it mindful of its own business. After watching 

 the tree-creeper for a few moments the wren made a 

 sudden rush and fairly frightened the tree-creeper some 

 inches away from its food. The wren quickly picked 

 it up and flew away with it. This was clearly a 

 feat of strategy, and happened on the heap of logs. My 

 garden male wren is becoming quite shrewd, for it does not 

 now mistake glass for space. If surprised when I come 

 home, it makes a rush past me through the doorway, the 

 result, I suppose, of its having been caught in the window 

 so often and examined. I have a habit of feeding it and 

 its family on a block by the door, and a few crumbs of 

 cheese are sufficient to bring them to my feet. Last March 

 I was using a kerosene tin to pick up windfall apples. 

 Standing it by the door, I very soon saw the garden 

 female wren come and perch on the edge of the tin and 

 catch sight of a grub on the bottom. But how to get that 

 giub was the trouble. It leaned over and hopped round 

 the edge of the tin many times. It would like to go down 

 to get tliat grub, but it looked too risky. Happy thouglit ! — 

 it would get down outside and get it. Down it went and 

 hunted all round tlie tin, and seemed surprised it could not 

 see the grub. Up again to the edge it got to see if it 

 really was there. Yes, there it was ; so down it went 

 ao-ain and tried to insert its bill beneath the tin. Again it 

 hopped up and feasted on the sight for some little time, 

 and then retired from the grub-hunt in despair. Birds are 

 commonly deceived in this way. As enemies, the Nankeen 

 Kestrel during summer takes numbers of young, while the 

 fox, that terrible bird exterminator, plays havoc in the 

 breeding season. That wren is lucky which does not have 

 to rear a second brood. At what age wrens start breeding 

 I have no ceitain knowledge, and the large numbers of 



