334 INSECTIVOILE. 



approach such that the bird does not immediately enter the 

 nest or leave it. So much has been written on the subject 

 of wrens' nests, that one would be almost tempted to believe 

 that the witches had been consulted as architects ; but when 

 there are fifty conjectures to one fact, anybody may make 

 descriptions. 



The eggs, where the birds are undisturbed, are seldom 

 fewer than six or more than eight ; they are of a pure white 

 colour, mottled with small reddish specks. The young return 

 to lodge in the nest for some time after they are fledged ; and 

 it is said, that while the female is performing the incubation, 

 the male makes a few clumsily constructed nests for the 

 accommodation of the brood after they disperse too widely 

 for returning to that in which they are hatched. That 

 would be curious, if true; but it wants confirmation: and 

 birds are subject to so many casualties in the breeding time 

 and they are so liable to abandon half-constructed nests, that 

 finding a young wren in such a nest would be no evidence. 

 Wrens nestle in holes and hiding-places at almost all seasons. 



The wren is a very small bird, about four inches and a 

 quarter long, six and a quarter in the extent of the wings, 

 and rather less than three drachms in weight. The prevailing 

 colour is reddish-brown, darker above and lighter on the 

 under part. The quills and tail feathers are dusky brown, 

 the former spotted on their outer webs and the latter barred 

 with reddish-brown. The bill is nearly the same colour as 

 the dark part of the quills; and the feet, and also a streak 

 over the eye, are pale brown. The bill is rather long, very 

 slender, and a little curved. It has an insect-catching bill ; 

 and the bird catches the smaller ones with great quickness, 

 either when they pass or by darting at them. 



In form, the wren has some resemblance to the dipper; it 

 is short and dumpy, and wears the tail, which though short 

 is very strong for the size of the bird, in an erect posture. 



