THE WREN. 103 



cleared from the plants at least six hundred insects 

 in the course of the day. This calculation is made 

 on the supposition that the two birds took only a 

 single insect each time. But it is highly probable 

 that they carried off more than one at every 

 flight. 



Notwithstanding that the wren is hardy, and 

 seems to enjoy the clear bright days of winter, 

 yet probably in extremely severe seasons many of 

 the species die of cold and want. During this 

 period, they seek shelter in holes of walls, and under 

 the eaves of corn and hay-stacks. Mr. Selby found 

 the dead bodies of several wrens in an old deserted 

 nest, where they had probably assembled to crowd 

 closely together, for the sake of warmth and 

 shelter from the storm; and a number of wrens 

 rolled together, as in a ball, have been found in 

 a hole of a wall, to which they had apparently 

 come for the night. It is probable that many 

 of our little birds may thus, during winter, keep 

 close together, and so preserve the heat of them- 

 selves and each other. When kept in cages, wrens 

 are generally supplied with a well-covered and 

 lined box in which they may pass the night. 



It is difficult to conjecture why the wren should, 



