BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



We had never considered diminutive Jenny 

 a potato bug eater, but last summer a wren 

 house was placed in a tree which grew beside 

 a small potato patch. Until the Wrens had 

 flown no bugs injured those potato plants. 

 Other birds may have helped to keep them 

 down, but one thing is certain, the Wrens ap- 

 peared to be taking a great many when very 

 small. They would not, of course, take them 

 when full grown, but they seemed to give them 

 little chance to grow. It is not wise to lay 

 down rules and regulations for any species of 

 birds. They seem to be possessed of individu- 

 ality and circumstances may alter their habits. 

 It is wonderful how far their sharp little eyes 

 can see. That same summer a few sweet peas 

 grew beside the kitchen door. While all went 

 well with those sweet peas the Wrens took no 

 interest in them, they flew in other directions 

 for their food. But one morning little green 

 insects appeared on the vines and directly the 

 Wrens were there. 



Some bird landlords assert that there are ob- 

 jections to Wren neighbors, that they prevent 

 other birds from nesting near them, but so far 

 we have not known them to do anything worse 

 [13] 



