172 HOUSE WREN. 



garden, those lurking enemies of the feathered race often prove fatal to 

 him. A box fitted up in tlie window of the room where I slept, was 

 taken possession of by a pair of Wrens. Already the nest was built, 

 and two eggs laid, when one day the window being open, as well as the 

 room door, the female Wren venturing too far into the room to recon- 

 noitre, was sprung upon by grimalkin, who had planted herself there for 

 the purpose ; and before relief could be given was destroyed. Curious 

 to see how the survivor would demean himself, I watched him carefully 

 for several days. At first he sung with great vivacity for an hour or 

 so, but becoming uneasy, went off for half an hour ; on his return he 

 chanted again as before, went to the top of the house, stable, and weep- 

 ing willow, that she might hear him ; but seeing no appearance of her, 

 he returned once more, visited the nest, ventured cautiously into the 

 window, gazed about with suspicious looks, his voice sinking to a low 

 melancholy note as he stretched his little neck about in every direction. 

 Returning to the box he seemed for some minutes at a loss what to do, 

 and soon after went off, as I thought, altogether, for I saw him no more 

 that day. Towards the afternoon of the second day, he again made his 

 appearance, accompanied with a new female, who seemed exceedingly 

 timorous and shy ; and who after great hesitation entered the box ; at 

 this moment the little widower, or bridegroom, seemed as if he would 

 warble out his very life with ecstasy of joy. After remaining about 

 half a minute in, they both flew off, but returned in a few minutes, and 

 instantly began to carry out the eggs, feathers, and some of the sticks, 

 supplying the place of the two latter with materials of the same sort ; 

 and ultimately succeeded in raising a brood of seven young, all of which 

 escaped in safety. 



The immense number of insects which this sociable little bird removes 

 from the garden and fruit trees, ought to endear him to every cultivator, 

 even if he had nothing else to recommend him ; but his notes, loud, 

 sprightly, tremulous, and repeated every few seconds with great anima- 

 tion, are extremely agreeable. In the heat of summer, families in the 

 country often dine under the piazza, adjoining green canopies of man- 

 tling grape vines, gourds, &c., while overhead the trilling vivacity of the 

 Wren, mingled with the warbling mimicry of the Mocking-bird, and the 

 distant softened sounds of numerous other songsters that we shall here- 

 after introduce to the reader's acquaintance, form a soul-soothing and 

 almost heavenly music, breathing peace, innocence and rural repose. 

 The European, who judges of the song of this species by that of his 

 own Wren [M. troglodytes), will do injustice to the former, as in strength 

 of tone, and execution, it is far superior, as well as the bird is in size, 

 figure and elegance of markings, to the European one. Its manners 

 are also different ; its sociability greater. It is no underground inhabit- 

 ant ; iis nest is differently constructed, the number of its eggs fewer ; 



