THE WREN. 121 



it is inspired with a force that in captivity is like unto 

 madness." 



The parental feeling is strong in this little creature. 



"The poor wren, 

 The most diminutive of birds, will fight, 

 Her young ones in her nest, against the owl." 



Nor will any other intruders escape her power : only let 

 a boy or a weasel come within the precincts of her 

 abode, and she will pursue and attack most courageously, 

 though the weight of the wren is only two drachms and 

 three-quarters. 



It appears to be possible for this commonly quiet little 

 bird to become impudent and oppressive. A swallow 

 had placed her nest in the corner of a piazza next a 

 gentleman's house ; another bird occupied the opposite 

 corner ; and a wren occupied a little box, made on pur- 

 pose, which hung in the middle. The birds were all 

 quite tame ; but the wren had shown dislike to its dwell- 

 ing, though on what account was not known, and at 

 length it determined to drive away the swallows. Sin- 

 gularly enough, it succeeded in its plot ; and no sooner 

 was the exploit performed, than, with great dexterity, it 

 removed every material to its own abode. It appeared, 



