232 Birds. 



eggs of a pale reddish-brown, sprinkled with, spots of 

 a darker colour. This bird sings sweetly, and so like 

 the nightingale, that in Norfolk it is called the mock 

 nightingale. White observes, that it has usually a full, 

 sweet, deep, loud, and wild pipe, yet the strain is of 

 short continuance, and its motions desultory ; but when 

 it sits calmly, and earnestly engages in song, it pours 

 forth very sweet but inward melody ; and expresses a 

 great variety of modulations, superior perhaps to any 

 of our warblers, the nightingale excepted. While it 

 sings, its throat is greatly distended. 



THE WEEN. (Troglodytes vulgaris.) 



" Fast by my couch, congenial guest, 

 The Wren has wove her mossy nest ; 

 From busy scenes and brighter skies 

 To lurk with innocence she flies ; 

 Her hopes in safe repose to dwell, 

 Nor aught suspects the sylvan cell." 



T. WABTON. 



THE WEEN is a very small bird ; but, as if nature had 

 intended to compensate the want of size and bulk in 

 the individuals, by multiplying them to a greater extent, 

 this little bird is one of the most prolific of the feathered 

 tribe, its nest containing often upwards of eighteen eggs, 

 of a whitish colour, and not much bigger than a pea. 

 The male and female enter by a hole contrived in the 

 middle of the nest, and which, by its situation and size, 

 is accessible only to themselves. The Wren weighs no 

 more than three drachms. Its notes are very sweet, and 

 rival those of the robin redbreast, in the middle of 

 winter, when the coldness of the weather has condemned 



