A TIRESOME PARTNER 



noisy, excited way as before, with the object of distracting 

 attention." 



Very different from the rough, strongly fortified construc- 

 tion we have just described, the thorny walls of which 

 seem to cry out a warning noli me tangere to possible in- 

 truders, is the beautiful domed dwelling made by the Wren 

 (Anorihura troglodytes). The fondness for building seems to 

 be even more remarkably developed in this lively little bird 

 than in the siskin or Syrian nuthatch, indeed it amounts 

 almost to a monomania. Not only do the paired wrens 

 frequently make several nests, but the cock birds which have 

 not yet found a mate are often equally industrious. Many 

 explanations of this habit have been suggested, but none of 

 them appears to be quite satisfactory. Are the nests in- 

 tended merely for arbours or pleasure houses, or are they 

 built in anticipation of future broods? Bcenigk observed 

 some wrens from April until August, and saw one cock bird 

 almost finish four nests before he met with a partner. After 

 pairing, the couple together constructed four other nests, 

 but for some unknown reason they did not settle down in 

 any of them. At last the hen bird lost all patience and 

 deserted her partner, who treated the matter very philo- 

 sophically and went on building for several weeks longer, 

 during which time he finished and abandoned two more nests. 

 Many naturalists are of opinion that they are intended as 

 houses of refuge to which the birds can retreat for shelter 

 during inclement weather, for wrens are very susceptible of 

 cold, and in winter- time a whole family of them will often 

 huddle together in some hole or cranny for mutual warmth. 



To make good use of any materials that come to hand is 

 the test of a born craftsman, and in this the wren excels. 

 Not in the substance only, but in the situation of his nest he 

 displays most catholic tastes ; it may almost be said that he 



97 



