HOUSE WREN. 135 



ventured cautiously into the window, gazed about with sus- 

 picious looks, his voice sinking to a low, melancholy note, as 

 he stretched his little neck about in every direction. Return- 

 ing to the box, he seemed for some minutes at a loss what to 

 do, and soon after went off, as I thought, altogether, for I saw 

 him no more that day. Towards the afternoon of the second 

 day, he again made his appearance, accompanied with a new 

 female, who seemed exceedingly timorous and shy, and who, 

 after great hesitation, entered the box ; at this moment the 

 little widower or bridegroom seemed as if he would warble 

 out his very life with ecstasy of joy. After remaining about 

 half a minute in, they both flew off, but returned in a few 

 minutes, and instantly began to carry out the eggs, feathers, 

 and some of the sticks, supplying the place of the two latter 

 with materials of the same sort ; and ultimately succeeded 

 in raising a brood of seven young, all of which escaped in 

 safety. 



The immense number of insects which this sociable little 

 bird removes from the garden and fruit trees, ought to endear 

 him to every cultivator, even if he had nothing else to recom- 

 mend him ; but his notes, loud, sprightly, tremulous, and 

 repeated every few seconds with great animation, are extremely 

 agreeable. In the heat of summer, families in the country 

 often dine under the piazza, adjoining green canopies of 

 mantling grape vines, gourds, &c, while overhead the thrilling 

 vivacity of the wren, mingled with the warbling mimicry of 

 the mocking bird, and the distant, softened sounds of num- 

 erous other songsters, that we shall hereafter introduce to 

 the reader's acquaintance, form a soul-soothing and almost 

 heavenly music, breathing peace, innocence, and rural repose. 

 The European who judges of the song of this species by that 

 of his own wren (M. troglodytes), will do injustice to the 

 former, as in strength of tone and execution it is far superior, 

 as well as the bird is in size, figure, and elegance of markings, 

 to the European one. Its manners are also different; its 

 sociability greater. It is no underground inhabitant ; its nest 



