A Builder of Many Nests. 



hearing Issue from it the frequent repetition of a sound resem- 

 bling the syllable chit. On going up you perceive an old wren 

 flitting about the twigs, and presently a young one flies off, 

 uttering a stifled chirr, to conceal itself among the bushes. 

 Several follow, whilst the parents continue to flutter about in 

 great alarm, uttering their chit, chit, with various degrees of 

 excitement." 



The nest of the wren is a wonderful structure, of which I shall 

 have a good deal to say. It begins building in April, and is 

 not by any means particular in situation. Sometimes it builds 

 in the hole of a wall or tree ; sometimes, as in this lovely little 

 picture of ours, in the mossy hollow of a primrose-covered bank ; 

 and because it was formerly supposed to live only in holes or 

 little caves, it received the name of Troglodytes, or cave-dweller. 

 But it builds equally willingly in the thatch of outbuildings, in 

 barn-lofts, or tree-branches, either when growing apart or nailed 

 against a wall, amongst ivy or other climbing plants ; in fact, 

 it seems to be of such a happy disposition as to adapt itself to 

 a great variety of situations. It is a singular fact that it will 

 often build several nests in one season — not that It needs so 

 many separate dwellings, or that It finishes them when built ; 

 but it builds as If for the very pleasure of the work. Our 

 naturalist says, speaking of this odd propensity, "that, whilst 

 the hen Is sitting, the he-bird, as if from a desire to be doing 

 something, will construct as many as half-a-dozen nests near 

 the first, none of which, however, are lined with feathers ; and 

 that whilst the true nest, on which the mother-bird is sitting, 

 will be carefully concealed, these sham nests are open to view. 

 Some say that as the wrens, during the cold weather, sleep In 



