200 



Bird- Lore 



Several broods are hatched yearly. The male shares in the household duties. 

 Before the first brood is fully fledged, the female begins laying in the second nest. 

 Possibly the preempting of a second box is forethought on' the part of the birds. 

 Toward the last the care of the first brood is chiefly left to the male. The young 

 are unusually well-fledged before they leave the nest. In fact, they are able to fly 

 fairly well several days before leaving the box. They are very clamorous for 

 food and will thrust their heads out of the box to be fed. On finally leaving the 

 nest the young are conducted to some brush-pile, in whose shelter, where cats can- 

 not reach them, they may be heard twittering for several days. After the last 

 brood is hatched the Wrens are rarely seen or heard in the city. They go to the 

 fields and copses for the rest of the sum^ier. 



A HOUSE WREN FAMILY 



