WREN LIFE 



THE stoiy does not say that the Heidelberg youth, too, 

 was transformed into a wren, but it must have been 

 that the Dryad wren's angry chirp caused him, also, 

 to grow small, for when she comes out of the hole in the tree 

 to-day the lover who keeps tryst with her is as small as a 

 mouse and quite like herself in every way. Besides, did they 

 not promise to be true to each other forever and ever? And 

 the hole in the tree, too, is smaller! What changes has anger 

 wrought! 



It was early in April when they arrived, too early for 

 any great abundance of insect life, their principal food, to 

 be abroad, but they were not seriously inconvenienced by its 

 scarcity, for, being plmnp with southern feasting, their 

 storage system made this, for the time being, a matter of 

 minor importance. 



She, attractive little body, had many admirers of her 

 kind, and he was often compelled to defend his exclusive 

 right to her favor. This was usually accomplished through 

 wordy discussions — beloved of all wrens — but occasionally 

 the retort valiant was administered by the pugnacious little 

 lover. 



As they flitted about among the trees looking for an 

 opening, they chanced upon this deserted dwelling of a 

 chickadee family, who, for some reason, had sought other 



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