80 THE WITCHING WREN. 



place, dropped upon her knees on the wet 

 ground, amid rank ferns and weeds, leaned far 

 under the overhanging roots with their load of 

 black earth, thrust careful fingers into some- 

 thing, and then rose, flushed and triumphant. 



" Come here," she commanded. '' A nest full 

 of babies ! Oh, what luck ! " 



There it was, sure enough, away back under 

 the heavy roof of earth and roots, a snug round 

 structure of green moss, little bigger than a 

 croquet ball. The hole occupied by the roots 

 when the tree stood erect was now filled with 

 water, and before it waved a small forest of 

 ferns. It was an ideal situation for a nest ; 

 pleasant to look at, and safe if anything could 

 be safe from the small fur-clad gentry who 

 claimed the wood and all it contained for their 

 own. 



" The hermit has no finer eye 

 For shadowy quietness " 



than had this pair of wise little wrens. 



From the blissful moment of our discovery, 

 whatever interesting excursion was planned, 

 whatever choice nest to be sought, or charming 

 family of nestlings to be called upon, our steps 

 first turned of themselves up the wren path. 

 Every day we saw the birds go in and out, on 

 household cares intent, and we soon began to 

 look for the exit of the younglings. 



