THE COMMON WREN 



217 



If the nest is built among dry leaves, it covers it with leaves; if 

 it is placed among moss, it covers it with moss; and so on. And 

 so, very often, the nest of the wren is passed by, when that of any 

 other bird would be seen at once. 



The mother wren seems to make the framework of the nest, 

 while her mate sits close by and sings to her. This part of the 



Wren with Nest 



task occupies about a day, and after it is done the two birds go to 

 work together. 



They are so neat and careful, and take so much pains, that 

 the nest is not finished for eight or nine days. When it is quite 

 completed, the mother wren lays from six to fourteen little white 

 eggs, prettily spotted and speckled with pink. And very soon a 

 family of little wrens is hatched out into the world. 



