NATURALISTS CABINET. 



Sagacity in building their nests. 



habitations; but when the wren builds in the 

 woods, it is often in a bush near the ground, on 

 the stump of a tree, or even on the ground. The 

 female lays from ten to eighteen eggs, which are 

 rery small, white, and sprinkled all over with 

 small red spots. It is very remarkable, thai the 

 materials of the nest are generally adapted to the 

 place where it is formed: if against a hay-rick, 

 hs exterior is composed of hay ; if against the 

 side of a tree clad with white lichens, it is co- 

 vered with the same substance; and if built 

 against the tree covered with greeu moss, or in a 

 bank, its exterior always bears the same corres- 

 pondence. The lining is invariably of feathers. 

 The wren does not, as is usual with most other 

 birds, begin the bottom of its nest first: when 

 against a tree, its primary operation is to trace 

 the outline, which is of an oval shape, upon the 

 bark, and thus fasten it with equal strength to all 

 parts. It then in succession closes the sides and 

 top, leaving only a small hole for entrance. If 

 the nest is placed under a bank, the top is first 

 begun and well secured in some cavity ; and by 

 this the fabric is suspended. 



Mr. St. John records the following story of 

 the bravery and selfishness of a wren ; but Mr. 

 Bingley (without any reason assigned) suspects 

 he means the common creeper. " Three birds 

 had built their nests almost contiguous to each 



w 



other. A swallow had affixed hers in the corner 

 of a piazza next his house; a bird (called a 



