422 THE GOLD-CKESTED WEEN. 



shape, and by that means fastens it equally strong to all parts ; 

 and afterwards encloses the sides and top, near which it leaves 

 a small hole for an entrance : if the nest is placed under a bank, 

 the top is first begun, and well secured in some cavity, by which 

 the fabric is suspended. 



It was remarked by WILLOTJGHBY, that " it is strange to ad- 

 miration, that so small a bodied bird should feed such a company 

 of young, and not miss one bird, and that in the dark also." 

 BAY ranks this circumstance among "those daily miracles of 

 which we take no notice." These observations are censured by 

 Mr. BOLTON, who says that " any one who thinks about it, and 

 compares the dimensions of the window with those of the house 

 within, will instantly perceive that a Wren's nest is more strongly 

 lighted than any palace in the kingdom." But this naturalist, in 

 his haste to find fault with others, has quite overlooked the cir- 

 cumstance, that the parent bird, while feeding her numerous 

 family, stands in the entrance of her dwelling, and must there- 

 fore in a great measure exclude the light. All this, however, is 

 mere quibbling, from which we gladly turn to quote MANT, who 

 in his description of the month of November, speaks of 



" The quick note of the russet Wren, 

 Familiar to the haunts of men. 

 He quits in hollow'd wall his bow'r, 

 And thro' the winter's gloomy hour 

 Sings cheerily : nor yet hath lost 

 His blitheness, chill'd by pinching frost; 

 Nor yet is forc'd for warmth to cleave 

 To cavern'd nook, or strawbuilt eave. 

 Sing, little bird ! Sing on, design'd 

 A lesson for our anxious kind ; 

 That we, like thee, with heart's content 

 Enjoy the blessings God hath sent ; 

 His bounty trust, perform his will, 

 Nor antedate uncertain ill !" 



165. THE GOLD-CBESTED "WnEx. 



Sylvia or Motacilla Regulus, LIN. Roitelet, Souci, ou Pout, BUF. 

 Das Goldhahnchen, BECH. 



Description. This is the smallest of European birds. It is 

 three inches and a half long, of which the tail measures one 

 inch and a quarter. The beak is four lines long, slender, very 

 sharp, and black; the nostrils are covered with a feather 

 divided like a comb ; the iris is dark brown ; the feet light 

 brown ; the shanks eight lines in height. The forehead is 



