The House Wren 



199 



molested by the Sparrows. Parenthetically, I may remark that House Sparrows 

 occasionally build rude nests in trees, in spite of their swaying. 



Wrens seem to work in the early morning hours in collecting the nesting ma- 

 terial. Sometimes, though rather rarely, I saw them at work during the day. The 

 box is filled about two-thirds with twigs about six or eight inches in length. It 

 is amusing to see a Wren picking up a stick by the middle and then poking it into 

 the hole of the box endwise. The box is filled with sticks nearly to the level 

 of the opening. This seems to serve as a sort of platform for the nest proper, 

 which is made of grass and a few feathers. 



HOUSE WREN AND NEST 



During the building and hatching period, the Wrens are shy and avoid going 

 near the box when observers are present. But, when the young are hatched, the 

 necessity of feeding them at frequent intervals makes the parents bolder. One 

 may then stand within a few feet of the box while the old birds go in and out. 



The male is an indefatigable singer from early morning to late at night. The 

 song, though not especially melodious, is so rollicking and cheerful that one 

 enjoys hearing it. 



Wrens feed chiefly on the ground, skulking about under the broad leaves of 

 vegetables, weeds and berry bushes picking up cutworms, moths and other 

 insects. 



