30 NATURE STUDY. 



were overcome and the wrens allowed to continue and com- 

 plete their many-times-begun housekeeping. 



The conflict lasted from early morn to dewy eve. The 

 dawn of day was ushered in with the cry of the sparrows 

 as they flew back and forth with material for the nest. 

 Their persistency filled me with rage, and if angry words 

 could have annihilated them there would have been one 

 less pair to perpetuate their species. As oft as the spar- 

 rows were ejected, the wrens returned. When the spar- 

 rows came to understand that the house was for the wrens 

 (and this idea did at last penetrate their brains) it was 

 comical to listen to the male every time any of the family 

 appeared in the garden, as he stood on the ridgepole of 

 the house, while his mate flew from tree to tree, adding 

 her cry to his. This was kept up for a whole day. when 

 they retired and left our bird family in peace. 



Then began the love-making and the home-building, 

 which we watched with interest from day to day ; she, the 

 industrious little mother, hurrying to and fro with the .soft 

 bits of material necessary for the ne.st, he sitting on a limb 

 near by and singing his love song as if inspired. "When 

 she came near, tarrj'ing for a moment to receive his loving 

 attention, meanwhile uttering low responses seeming to 

 have a note of rebuke at his lack of energy in not assisting 

 to bring the portion of the material for the construction of 

 their home, .she seemed the embodiment of restless, active 

 motherhood preparing for the new duties of maternity. 



Once I happened to notice her carry from the ground a 

 three-pronged twig. She had secured it by the shorter 

 end and found it impossible to get it through the small 

 opening. Again and again was it taken, only to be 

 dropped ; meanwhile .small pieces of soft feathers were 

 placed within. Evidently this particular twig was consid- 



