100 OUR NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



ceived, and the contrivance which a contemplative 

 being would have provided, was resorted to." 



Nor should we here forget the poet's testimony to 

 a little contrivance of this sort, narrated by Words- 

 worth, in his poem called the Wren's Nest. A pair 

 of these birds had placed their cozy dwelling in a 

 green covert, made by the branches of a pollard oak. 



"But she who plann'd this mossy lodge, 

 Mistrusting her evasive skill, 

 Had to a primrose look'd for aid, 

 Her wishes to fulfil. 



"High on the trunk's projecting bough, 

 And fix'd, an infant's span, above 

 The buddim? flowers, peep'd forth the nest, 

 The prettiest of the grove." 



In later days, the poet wandered to the oak to 

 show to some friends the nest placed so prettily 

 there, when he could see it no longer, and believed 

 that some rude hand had carried it away. 



"Just three days after, passing by 



In clearer light, the moss-built cell 

 I saw, espied its shaded mouth. 

 And felt that all was well. 



" The primrose for a veil had spread 

 The largest of her upright leaves; 

 And thus for purposes benign 

 A simple flower deceives." 



