572 



WREN. 



a fact which he professes to have himself witnessed, in company with 

 the celebrated Kircher, at Rome, they being- commanded to try the 

 experiment by a certain eminent Cardinal, who furnished the bird, and 

 a hazel rod for a spit. At first they despaired of success ; but just as 

 Kircher, who had lost all patience, was going- away, the spit (mirabile 

 clictu) began to turn slowly ! ! ! 1 Those who keep Wrens in cages 

 usually furnish them with a box lined and covered with cloth, having 

 a hole for entrance, where they may roost warmly during- the nig-ht. 2 

 Yet even in keen frost the Wren does not seem in the day time to care 

 much for cold, since I have in such cases frequently heard it singing as 

 merrily as if it had been enjoying the sunshine of summer, contrary to 

 the remark of White, that Wrens. do not sing in frosty weather. 3 * 



This pretty little bird, like the redbreast, frequently approaches the 

 habitation of man, and enlivens the rustic garden with its song the 

 greater part of the year. It begins to make a nest early in the spring, 

 but frequently deserts it before it is lined, and searches for a more 

 secure place. It is frequently made under the thatch of out-buildings, 

 against the side of a mossy tree, or against an impending bank that 

 secures it from the rain ; sometimes in a low thick bush. But what is 

 remarkable, the materials of the nest are generally adapted to the 

 place ; if built beside a hayrick, it is composed of hay ; if against the 

 side of a tree covered with white moss, it is made of that material; and 

 with green moss if against a tree covered with the same, or in a bank. 

 Thus instinct directs it for security. The lining is invariably feathers. 

 The eggs are seven or eight in number, white, sparingly marked with 

 small reddish spots, most commonly at the larger end ; their weight 

 about twenty grains. 



* The Wren does not begin at the bottom of its nest first, which is 

 usual with most birds, but, if against a tree, first traces the outline of the 

 nest which is of an oval shape, and by that means fastens it equally strong 

 to all parts, and afterwards encloses the sides and top, leaving only a 

 small hole near the top for entrance. If the nest is placed under a 

 bank, the top is first begun, and well secured in some small cavity, by 

 which the fabric is suspended. 



The usual staple material of the nest is green moss, {Hypnum velu- 

 tinum, Sfc.) which it collects in great quantity, and apparently to save 

 itself the trouble of frequent journeys for materials, it carries, as in the 

 instance to be mentioned, a tuft of moss nearly as bulky as itself. I have 



1 Phys. Curiosae, p. 1249. 2 Syme, Brit. Song Birds, p. 159. 



3 Selborne, Lett. 60. 



