WREN'S NEST. 131 



its character ; instead of being warm and genial, we have 

 nothing but cold and cutting east winds ; and the mountains 

 have lost but very little of their winter covering of snow ; 

 indeed, on the higher inland mountains their white dresses 

 extend down very nearly as low as in the winter. But 

 notwithstanding the bad weather there is much to amuse and 

 interest one in the sheltered parts of the low country. Every 

 plant and flower is bursting into beauty, in spite of the cold 

 blasts ; and the small birds are in full activity, and seem at 

 the height of tbeir happiness. It is also a constant source of 

 amusement to us to watch the various ways of building and 

 the different nests of the small birds. Each nest has its own 

 character, and each bird its own place of concealment. The 

 little willow wren forms one of the most interesting nests, 

 which it places either under a bush in the flower-garden, or 

 in a rough grass-field, where it forms a kind of dome-shaped 

 nest, made to assimilate completely with the surface of the 

 surrounding ground. 



The common wren, too, is very choice and careful in the 

 structure of her nest, and sometimes builds in the most 

 singular situations. I saw one this year which was built in 

 a cactus, that hung from the roof of a greenhouse. Every 

 time the little bird wished to add a leaf, or a piece of moss, 

 she had to squeeze and twist herself in through a small hole 

 left for the entrance of a vine stem. Her perseverance and 

 determination were extraordinary; for in spite of all difficulties 

 she managed to form an immense nest in this singularly 

 chosen and picturesque abode. It is difficult to imagine what 

 could have put it into her head to come into the greenhouse 

 at all, and through so awkward an entrance, surrounded, too, 

 as she was by places far more suitable and easy of access. 



The badgers live a life of great activity now. In this 

 country they are seldom destroyed : at least, there -is one 

 large tract of very wild country, the soil of which is sandy 

 and suitable for their digging propensities, where also they 

 are not often trapped. The badger, when once he has been 

 frightened by, or has escaped from a trap, is not easily 

 caught again ; but displays a cunning and perseverance, in 

 eluding ail attempts at his capture, which he is not generally 

 supposed to possess. 



I seldom declare war agains.t these animals, not consider- 

 ing them very mischievous ; but some time ago, wanting one 

 for a friend, I set a strong trap with bait near one of their 



