SONG BIRDS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



liar without impudence, busy and bustling in action, 

 and extremely gallant in manners ; so much so, 

 indeed, that every mild and sunny day in winter 

 reminds him of 'lejour des tioces,' and excites him 

 to pour forth his gay and lively song. This, though 

 short, is full of gaiety and sprightliness : it is a 

 burst of joy, rapturous and loud ; beginning high 

 and graduated down to rather more than an octave, 

 and repeated at intervals of about a minute or 

 two." So audibly loud is the song, that it may 

 be easily distinguished even in a full chorus. The 

 Wren has also a curious note of fear, resembling the 

 winding up of a clock, and a burring note of 

 rebuke. 



Though the Wren is far from being a timid bird — 

 for it will allow one to come within arm's length of 

 it, while it is hopping about in pursuit of flies — -it 

 is no less wary than other birds respecting its nest, 

 and will scold most outrageously — calling " cheek ! 

 cheek !" in rapid succession, when any one intrudes 

 within its boundaries ; and will even pursue a boy 

 or polecat to some distance with loud manifesta- 

 tions of anger — tantane animis exiguis ircE ?* 



It begins to make a nest early in the spring, but 

 frequently deserts it before it is lined, and searches 

 for a more secure situation. It is frequently made 

 under the thatch of outbuildings, 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 mate- 

 rials of the nest are generally adapted to the 



* Ornithological Dictionar}^. 



