NEST OF THE WEEN. 



269 



proclaimed himself the sovereign of the liirds. But all unperceived, the little Wren had 

 been quietly perching between his shoulders, and as soon as the eagle ceased to mount, 

 the Wren sprang into the air, and, rising on tiny pinion far above the wearied eagle, twit- 

 tered forth the victory of wit and intellect over bulk and physical strength. 



The long and harsh name of Troglodytes, which has been given to this bird, signifies a 

 diver into caves, and has been attributed to the Wren on account of its shy and retiring 

 habits, and its custom of hiding its nest in some hollow or crevice where it may escape 

 observation. The Wren is seldom to be seen in the open country, and does not venture 

 upon any lengthened flight, but confines itself to the hedge-rows and brushwood, where it 

 may often be observed hopping and skipping like a tiny feathered mouse among the 

 branches. It especially haunts the hedges which are flanked by ditches, as it can easily 

 hide itself in such localities, and can also obtain a plentiful supply of food. By remaining 

 perfectly quiet, the observer can readily watch its movements, and it is really an inte- 

 resting sight to see the little creature flitting about the brushwood, flirting its saucily 

 expressive tail, and uttering its quick and cheering note. 



The voice of the Wren is very sweet 

 and melodious, and of a more powerful 

 character than would be imagined from 

 the dimensions of the bird. The Wren i.s 

 a merry little creature, and chants its gay 

 song on the slightest encouragement of 

 weather. Even in winter there needs but 

 the gleam of a few stray sunbeams to set 

 the Wren a-singing, and the cold Christ- 

 mas season is often cheered with its happy 

 notes. While skipping among the branches, 

 the Wren utters a continuous little twit- 

 ter, which, although not worthy of being 

 reckoned as a song, is yet very soft and 

 pleasing. 



The nest of the AV^ren is rather an 

 ambitious structure, being a completely 

 domed edifice, and built in a singularly 

 ingenious manner. If, however, the bird 

 can find a suitable spot, such as the hole 

 of a decaying tree, the gnarled and knotted 

 branches of old ivy, or the overhanging 

 eaves of a deserted building, where a 

 natural dome is formed, it is sure to seize 

 upon the opportunity and to make a dome 

 of very slight workmanship. The dome, 

 however, always exists, and is composed 

 of non-conducting materials, so that the 



bird always contrives to insulate itself and its young from electrical influences. It is a very 

 singularfact, that a Wren will often commence and partly build three or four nests in 

 different localities before it settles finally upon one spot. Some persons have supposed that 

 these supplementary nests are built by the parent bird as houses for its young after they 

 have grown too large to be contained within the house where they were born, while others 

 have suggested that they are experimental nests made by the inexperienced young while 

 trying their 'prentice beak in the art of bird architecture. 



For my own part, I believe that these partial nests have been made by Wrens when 

 building for the first time, and consequently inexperienced in the world and its difficulties. 

 They seem to fix too hastily upon a locality, and then to find, after they have made some 

 progress with their house, that danger lurks near, perhaps in the form of a weasel, a shrike, 

 or a snake. In one such instance of desertion the cause was sufficiently evident, for the 

 head of a snake was seen protruding from the opening of the nest. 



WRE>f. -Troglodytes rvlgtWis. 



