60 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Contest between two martins and a wren. 



Mr. Simpson, during his residence at Welton, 

 in North America, one morning heard a noise 

 from a couple of martins that were flying from 

 tree to tree near his dwelling. They made seve- 

 ral attempts to get into a box or cage fixed against 

 the house, which they had before occupied ; but 

 they always appeared to fly from it again with 

 the utmost dread ; at the same time repeating 

 those loud cries which first drew his attention. 

 Curiosity led this gentleman to watch their mo- 

 tions. After some time a small wren came from 

 the box, and perched on a tree near it ; when her 

 shrill notes appeared to amaze her antagonists. 

 Having remained a short time, she flew away. 

 The martins took this opportunity of returning 

 to the cage ; but their stay was short. Their 

 diminutive adversary returned, and made them 

 yetire with the greatest precipitation. They con- 

 tinued maneuvering in this way the whole day ; 

 but the following morning, on the wren's quit- 

 ting the cage, the martins immediately returned, 

 took possession of their mansion, broke up their 

 own nest, went to work afresh with extreme in- 

 dustry and ingenuity, and soon barricaded their 

 doors. The wren returned, but could not now 

 re-enter. She made attempts to storm the nest, 

 but did not succeed. The martins, abstaining 

 from food nearly two days, persevered during 

 the whole of that time in defending the entrance ; 

 the wren, finding she could not force the 



