GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 221 ^ 



brown ; the tail is of a deep tawny red ; and the eyes are 

 remarkably large and animated. 



This bird (the most celebrated of the feathered tribe for 

 the variety, length, and sweetness of its notes) visits Eng- 

 land about the beginning of April, and leaves it in August. 

 It is found only in some of the southern and midland 

 counties, and is said to be unknown in Scotland, Ireland, 

 and North Wales. It commences its song in the evening, 

 when other birds are generally at roost, as if it disdained 

 to waste its music in the throng ; and continues it by in- 

 tervals during the whole night. If undisturbed, it will 

 sit for weeks together almost on the same tree. It builds 

 its nest near the bottom of some hedge, in such artful 

 concealment, that it generally eludes the inquisitive eye 

 of the school-boy ; and surely to rob it or other birds of 

 their eggs and young, especially without any intention to 

 rear them, is a pitiful gratification, when the pain thus 

 inflicted is considered. A poet of nature thus paints the 

 feelings, and pleads the cause, of this injured songster : 



But let not chief the NIGHTINGALE lament 



Her ruin'd care, too delicately form'd 



To brook the harsh confinement of the cage. 



Oft, when returning with her loaded bill, 



The astonish'd mother finds a vacant nest, 



By the hard hand of unrelenting clowns 



Robb'd ; to the ground the vain provision falls : 



Her pinions muffle ; and, low-drooping, scarce 



Can bear the mourner to the poplar shade, 



Where, all abandon'd to despair, she sings 



Her sorrows through the night ; and, on the bough 



Sole sitting, still at every dying fall 



Takes up again her lamentable strain 



Of winding woe ; till, wide around, the woods 



Sigh to her song, and with her wail resound. 



THOMSON'S SPENCE. 



THE GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 



This is the smallest of all British birds, weighing no 

 more than twenty-six grains. It is easily distinguished 



L % 



