THE GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 339 



that exists. The birds enter to the nest under the branch ; 

 but they enter the nest itself at the upper side, as it is never 

 (at least in the pine forests) covered by a dome, but is in the 

 shape of a cup, very deep, and neatly constructed ; green 

 moss forms the external part, and is sometimes interwoven 

 with wool, when that is within the range of the birds. The, 

 interior is very small feathers, but in considerable numbers, 

 so that the eggs can hardly be seen. The eggs are numerous, 

 sometimes as many as ten or eleven, but not much larger 

 than peas. Whether it be owing to the number of the 

 brood, the uncertainty of finding a regular supply of food 

 during the early season at which these little birds begin to 

 breed, or to some other cause which has not been ascertained, 

 has not been made out ; but it is true, that more nests and 

 eggs of the golden-crested wren are left to perish, apparently 

 from the death of the mother, than of almost any other 

 species of British birds. On that account, as well as from 

 the number of the birds that die in severe winters, more 

 especially in the deciduous forests, which do not afford the 

 same shelter as pines, the increase is by no means in pro- 

 portion to the number of eggs. Golden-crested wrens are 

 also liable to be driven, en masse, from their habitats, by 

 severe winters ; and there are recorded instances of vast 

 flocks, evidently continental ones, being stranded on our 

 eastern shores, as well as the native ones being driven from 

 their northerly haunts witt us for an entire season ; or rather 

 as being swept from those haunts, not to return, but to be 

 replaced by a fresh colony from the north ; as the birds, in 

 those cases, reappear in the autumn a time at which there 

 is no northerly migration in our hemisphere. 



The birds are, however, so minute, and generally so hidden 

 among the branches, and shift about so much ; that they are 

 not easily seen even in places where they are abundant. 

 They are, however, so beautiful, and so lively in their action, 



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