304 THE TAILOR-BIRD. 
The nest of the Wren is rather an ambitious structure, being a completely 
domed edifice, and built in a singularly ingenious manner. If, however, tue 
bird can find a suitable spot, such as the hole of a decaying tree, the gnarled 
and knotted branches of old ivy, or the overhanging eaves of 4 deserted 
building, where a natural.dome is formed, it is sure to seize upon the oppor- 
tunity and to make a dome of very slight workmanship. The dome, how- 
ever, always exists in some form. 
The materials of which the nest is composed are always leaves, moss, 
grass, and lichens, and it is almost always so neatly built that it can hardiy 
be seen by one who was not previously aware of its position. The opening 
of the nest is always at the side, so that the eggs are securely shielded from 
the effects of weather. 
As to the locality and position in which the nest is placed, no definite 
rule is observed, for the Wren is more capricious than the generality of birds 
in fixing upon a house for her young. Wrens’ nests have been found in 
branches, hedges, hayricks, waterspouts, hollow trees, barns and outhouses. 
Sometimes the Wren becomes absolutely eccentric in its choice, and builds 
its nest in spots which no one would conjecture that a bird would select. A 
Wren has been known to make its nest in the body of a dead hawk which 
had been killed and nailed to the side of a barn. Another Wren chose to 
make her house in the throat of a dead calf, which had been hung upon a 
tree, and another of these curious little birds was seen to build in the interior 
of a pump, gaining access to her eggs and young through the spout. 
The eggs of the Wren are very small, and are generally from six to eight 
in number. 
During the winter, the Wren generally shelters itself from the weather in 
the same nest which it had inhabited during the breeding season, and in 
very cold seasons it is not an uncommon event to find six or seven Wrens 
all huddled into a heap for the sake of warmth, and presenting to the eye or 
hand of the spectator nothing but a shapeless mass of soft brown feathers. 
It is probable that these little gatherings may be composed of members of 
the same family. 
The colour of the Wren is a rich reddish brown, paling considerably on 
the under surface of the body, and darkening into dusky brown upon the 
quill feathers of the wings and tail. The outer webs of the former are 
sprinkled with reddish brown spots, and the short tail-feathers are barred 
with the same hue. The bill is slender, and rather long in proportion to the 
general dimensions of the bird. The total length of the Wren is rather 
more than fourinches. White and pied varieties are not uncommon. 
WE now arrive at the very large family of the WARBLERS. 
The first example of the Warblers is the celebrated TAILOR-BIRD of India 
and the Indian Archipelago. 
The Tailor-bird is a sober little creature, not more conspicuous than a 
common sparrow, and is chiefly remarkable for its curious nest, which is 
made in a singular and most ingenious manner. Taking two leaves at the 
extremity of a slender twig, the bird literally sews them together at their 
edges, its bill taking the place of the needle, and vegetable fibres constituting 
the thread. A quantity of soft cottony down is then pushed between the 
leaves, and a convenient hollow scraped out in which the eggs may lie and 
the young birds may rest at their ease. Sometimes, if the leaf be large 
enough, its two edges are drawn together, but in general a pair of leaves are 
needed. A few feathers are sometimes mixed with the down. 
This curious nest is evidently hung at the very extremity of the twigs, in 
order to keep it out of the way of the monkeys, snakes, and other enemies 
which might otherwise attack and devour mother and young together. 
