THE WREN. 247 



Description of the cock and hen-bird. 



would be imagined for its strength and bigness. 

 Many persons have kept these birds a long time 

 in a cage, and have had them to sing as stout as 

 if they were in the fields, and with equal freedom 

 and mellowness of song. Its song is very much 

 admired, being, though short, a very pleasing 

 warble, which it continues throughout the year, 

 and has been heard to sing very unconcerned 

 even during a fall of snow. It sings also very 

 late in the evening, though not like the nightin- 

 gale, after dark. 



The cock is of a dark colour ; the head, neck, 

 and upper parts of the body, are of a mixed 

 brown; the throat of palish yellow; the breast 

 more inclined to white, the belly of a dusky- 

 coloured red ; the tips of the wings, and covert- 

 feathers of the tail, are beautifully variegated 

 with a few yellowish and blackish spots upon 

 them. The hen-bird is all over of a reddish-r 

 brown colour, excepting the lines across her tail 

 and wings, which are black and reddish. The 

 bird with the largest eye is generally thought to 

 be a cock. The difference in those birds, while 

 young, can hardly be known, till the cock begins 

 to record and sing. 



The wren has young ones in May ; the nest is 

 curiously constructed ; being composed chiefly 

 pf moss, and lined with feathers ; and in shape 

 almost oval, with only one small entrance. This 

 is generally found in some corner of an out- 

 ftousej stack of wood, or hole in a wall, near OUT 



