270 THE GOLD-CRESTED WREN. 



The female is smaller, of a redder brovm, and confusedly 

 streaked across ; the feet are yellowish. 



Habitation;. — When wild it is found all over Europe, and particularly 

 frequents mountainous and woody places. It does not quit us, but remains 

 in winter, as in summer, near our dwellings^ 



In the house, on account of its liveliness, it is given rather a large cage, 

 the bars of which should be very near together. If allowed to range it 

 may easily escape through small openings, as it is very fond of penetrating 

 such crevices. 



Food. — At liberty, it consists throughout the year of small insects, 

 which it seeks in winter in barns, stables, cellars, holes in walls, and piles 

 of wood. In autumn, however, it will eat both unripe and black elder- 

 berries. 



As soon as it is brought into the house it must be plentifully supplied 

 •with meal-worms, flies, elderberries, and then gradually add nightingales' 

 paste, which will soon become its ordinary food. It is only by adopting 

 this method that I have been successful in preserving one of these birds. 



Breeding. — Any nook appears to suit the wren to build its large nest 

 in ; which may be found in a hole of a tree, amongst the roots, under a 

 roof, or a cavity under ground ; every place is suitable, provided the nest 

 can be concealed. This is oval, covered with moss on the outside, and 

 lined with feathers and hair. It has an opening at the top or side to go 

 in and out by. The female lays from six to eight pretty little white eggs, 

 speckled with red. The young ones are rusty red, spotted with black and 

 white. They may be reared on ants' eggs, adding, as soon as they can fly, 

 the universal paste ; but they always prefer ants' eggs. 



Mode of Taking. — If in winter, a white-throat trap is set in a jlace 

 much frequented by these birds, and meal-worms scattered within and 

 around it. In this the wrens will surely be caught. They may be en- 

 trapped in autumn with spring traps and springes, by hanging elder-berries 

 before ; but, after every precaution, they generally break their legs. 



Attractive Qualities. — Its sprightliness is pleasing, and its actions gay 

 and varied. It has a very powerful voice for its size, and its song is 

 continued throughout the year ; it is soft, and mingled with some notes of 

 the canary, which are the more pleasing as they consist of distinct loud 

 tones always descending. Its call is tzrr, tzetzererr ! I have never 

 preserved one more than a year, but other amateurs say they may be 

 kept two or three. 



THE GOLD-CRESTED WREN. 



Motacilla Kegulus, Linn^us ; Le Poul, ou Roitelei bupp^, Bufpon: Das 

 Goldhahnchen, Bechstein. 



This is the smallest of European birds. It is three inches 

 and a half in length, of which the tail measures one and a 



