X26 THE HOUSE WREN. 



window was open, its company was extremely agreeable, as was its little'song, 

 which continually reminded us of its happy life. It would now and then 

 dive into the garden at the foot of the window, procure food for its mate, 

 return and creep into the hole where it had its nest, and be off again in a 

 moment. Having procured some flies and spiders, I now and then threw 

 some of them towards him, when he would seize them with great alacrity, 

 eat some himself, and carry the rest to his mate. In this manner, it became 

 daily more acquainted with us, entered the room, and once or twice sang 

 whilst there. One morning I took it in to draw its portrait, and suddenly 

 closing the window, easily caught it, held it in my hand, and finished its 

 likeness, after which I restored it to liberty. This, however, made it more 

 cautious, and it never again ventured within the window, although it sang 

 and looked at us as at first. 



The antipathy which the House Wren shews to cats is extreme. Although 

 it does not attack puss, it follows and scolds her until she is out of sight. In 

 the same manner, it makes war on the Martin, the Blue Bird and the House 

 Swallow, the nest of any of which it does not scruple to appropriate to 

 itself, whenever occasion offers. Its own nest is formed of dry crooked 

 twigs, so interwoven as scarcely to admit entrance to any other bird. 

 Within this outer frame-work grasses are arranged in a circular manner, and 

 the whole is warmly lined with feathers and other equally soft materials. 

 The eggs are five or six, of a regularly oval form, and uniform pale reddish 

 colour. Two broods are raised in the season. 



The male seems to delight in attempting to surpass in vocal powers others 

 of his species, during the time of incubation; and is frequently seen within 

 sight of another, straining his little throat, and gently turning his body from 

 side to side, as if pivoted on the upper joints of his legs. For a moment 

 he conceives the musical powers of his rival superior to his own, and darts 

 towards him, when a battle ensues, which over, he immediately resumes his 

 song, whether he has been the conqueror or not. 



When the young issue from the nest, it is interesting to see them follow 

 the parents amongst the currant bushes in the gardens, like so many mice, 

 hopping from twig to twig, throwing their tail upwards, and putting their 

 bodies into a hundred different positions, all studied from the parents, whilst 

 the latter are heard scolding, even without cause, but as if to prevent the 

 approach of enemies, so anxious are they for the safety of their progeny. 

 They leave Pennsylvania about the 1st of October. 



This species is not found farther eastward along our Atlantic shores than 

 the province of Nova Scotia, where it is not very common, and I suspect 

 that the specimen of a Troglodytes procured by Mr. Drummoxd at the foot 

 of the Rocky Mountains, and described in the Fauna Boreali-Americana, 



