lO The Wren. 



some snug, warm hole, they frequently occupy these extra nests 

 as winter-bedchambers, four or five, or even more, huddling 

 together, to keep one another warm." 



Mr. Weir, a friend of the author I have just quoted, says 

 this was the case in his own garden ; and that, during the 

 winter, when the ground was covered with snow, two of the 

 extra-nests were occupied at night by a little family of seven, 

 which had hatched in the garden. He was very observant of 

 their ways, and says it was amusing to see one of the old wrens, 

 coming a little before sunset and standing a few inches from 

 the nest, utter his little cry till the whole number of them had 

 arrived. Nor were they long about it ; they very soon answered 

 the call, flying from all quarters — the seven young ones and the 

 other parent-bird — and then at once nestled into their snug 

 little dormitory. It was also remarkable that when the wind 

 blew from the east they occupied a nest which had its opening 

 to the west, and when it blew from the west, then one that 

 opened to the east, so that it was evident they knew how to 

 make themselves comfortable. 



And now as regards the building of these little homes. I 

 will, as far as I am able, give you the details of the whole 

 business from the diary of the same gentleman, which is as 

 accurate as if the little wren had kept it himself, and which will 

 just as well refer to the little nest in the primrose bank as to the 

 nest in the Spanish juniper-tree, where, in fact, it was built. 



" On the 30th of May, therefore, you must imagine a little 

 pair of wrens, having, after a great deal of consultation, made 

 up their minds to build themselves a home in the branches of a 

 Spanish juniper. The female, at about seven o'clock in the 



