SONG BIRDS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



severe winters, particularly when the ground is 

 for any considerable period covered with snow. 

 " Under these circumstances," says Selby, " they re- 

 tire for shelter into holes of walls, and to the eaves 

 of corn and hay stacks ; and I have frequently 

 found the bodies of several together in old nests, 

 which they had entered for additional warmth and 

 protection during severe storms." 



The Wren is a difficult bird to keep in confine- 

 ment. Bechstein says, he has never preserved one 

 more than a year. In the house, he says, on account 

 of its liveliness, it is given rather a large cage, the 

 bars of which should be very near together. As 

 soon as it is brought into the house, it should 

 be plentifully supplied with meal worms, flies, 

 elderberries, and then gradually add nightingales' 

 paste, which will soon become its ordinary food. 

 The nightingales' paste is composed of dried, or 

 rather roasted ox-heart and carrot, both grated, 

 and then mixed with dried ants' eggs. 



