332 HOUSE WREN. 



within this is a layer of fine dried stalks of grass, and lastly 

 feathers. The eggs are six or seven, and sometimes nine, of a 

 red purplish flesh colour, innumerable fine grains of that tint 

 being thickly sprinkled over the whole egg. They generally 

 raise two broods in a season; the first about the beginning of 

 June, the second in July. 



This little bird has a strong antipathy to cats; for having fre- 

 quent occasion to glean among the currant bushes, and other 

 shrubbery in the garden, those lurking enemies of the feathered 

 race often prove fatal to him. A box fitted up in the window 

 of the room where I slept, was taken possession of by a pair of 

 Wrens. Already the nest was built, and two eggs laid, when 

 one day the window being open, as well as the room door, the 

 female Wren venturing too far into the room to reconnoitre, 

 was sprung upon by grimalkin, who had planted herself there 

 for the purpose; and before relief could be given was destroyed. 

 Curious to see how the survivor would demean himself, I 

 watched him carefully for several days. At first he sung with 

 great vivacity for an hour or so, but becoming uneasy, went off 

 for half an hour; on his return he chanted again as before, went 

 to the top of the house, stable, and weeping willow, that she 

 might hear him; but seeing no appearance of her, he returned 

 once more, visited the nest, ventured cautiously into the win- 

 dow, gazed about with suspicious looks, his voice sinking to a 

 low melancholy note as he stretched his little neck about in 

 every direction. Returning to the box he seemed for some min- 

 utes at a loss what to do, and soon after went off, as I thought, 

 altogether, for I saw him no more that day. Towards the after- 

 noon of the second day, he again made his appearance, accom- 

 panied with a new female, who seemed exceedingly timorous 

 and shy; and who after great hesitation entered the box; at this 

 moment the little widower, or bridegroom, seemed as if he 

 would warble out his very life with ecstasy of joy. After re- 

 maining about half a minute in, they both flew off, but returned 

 in a few minutes, and instantly began to carry out the eggs, 

 feathers, and some of the sticks, supplying the place of the two 



