THE WREN. 97 



and sometimes on the turf beneath the 

 trunk of a tree, or in a hole in a wail : 

 its nest is constructed with much art, being 

 of an oval shape, with one small aper- 

 ture at the side for an entrance ; it is 

 composed chiefly of moss, or other sur- 

 rounding materials, so as not to be easily 

 distinguished from them, and lined within 

 with feathers: the female lays from ten 

 to sixteen, and sometimes eighteen eggs : 

 they are white, thinly sprinkled with small 

 reddish spots, mostly at the thicker end." 



The young birds are hatched in May, 

 but must not be taken till they are well 

 feathered ; in the management of them, 

 and the treatment of their diseases, ex- 

 actly the same course must be pursued as 

 that recommended for the nightingale. 



It is rather difficult to dibtinguish the 

 cock of this bird from the hen : it may 

 be known, however, by its having a larger 

 eye, and by the waving lines of its plu- 

 mage, which is altogether more brilliant 

 and more distinct. 



