170 OUR WINTER BIRDS 



It is not alone his color which makes him a true 

 Brownie among birds, a quaint little wood sprite 

 with whom we would be glad to make friends. But 

 wholly unlike his cousin, he evidently has small use 

 for mankind and one can imagine him spying: 

 "Well, well, what is it you want? I really haven't 

 anything for you, and would be quite as well pleased 

 if you would go on about your affairs and leave me 

 to mine." 



It is a pity that this diminutive Wren is so un- 

 sociable, for he is a rarely talented songster, whose 

 rippling, trickling melody brings delight to every one 

 who hears him. This song he reserves for nesting 

 time, when in some snug nook in the roots of a tree 

 he builds a home of twigs and mos» and lines it 

 softly with feathers. 



The eggs number from five to seven and are 

 white, usually finely speckled with reddish brown. 



