CAGE AND SINGING BIRDS. 
55 
seek for it in the crevice of an old wall, the hole of a bank, or 
a hollow tree. Amid closely-twisted ivy stems, under piled 
log's of wood, or heaps of stones, it may be often found ; 
and although it is well concealed, yet a little patience will 
enable you to detect its whereabouts, if there are young 
birds in it, for the parents, one or other, will keep passing 
in and out with food for the clamorous chirpers. The 
nest of the wren is of an oval shape, with the entrance at 
the side; it is generally built of moss, and lined with 
feathers; the eg'gs are about eight in number, of a pure 
white colour, sparely dotted with light red. Young wrens 
should be taken when they are stump -feathered, as they 
leave the nest before they are fully Hedged. They must 
be carefully covered up, for they are delicate birds, and a 
-chill will most likely be fatal to them ; they should be 
fed on white bread, soaked in boiled milk, with a few meal- 
worms or ants' eggs. After a while tbey should be put 
into a net cage, and, when old enough to feed themselves, 
into one made expressly for such small birds, with the wires 
very close together. The same food as above will do for 
the birds when full grown; also hemp-seed and soaked 
bread, with raw and cooked meat, boiled carrot or cauli- 
flower, and an occasional feast of elder-berries, and other 
pulpy fruits. 
In autumn, says Bechstein, old wrens are frequently 
caught in springes baited with elder-berries, and in winter 
in a tit- trap baited with meal-worms. Sweet advises a 
limed twig on the end of a fishing-rod, and as these birds 
allow of a very near approach, this mode is often successful. 
As soon as caught, the wrens should be fed on meal-worms 
and elder-berries sprinkled over the nightingale paste, 
which, b}^ this means, they will be brought to like. They 
do bes^ several together in a large cage, or at liberty in a 
room, in which, during the wdnter, there should always be a 
fire by day. A number of small boxes, nearly filled wdth 
fine moss, placed about the room, make good sleeping- 
places for them. The wren in confinement is a lively and 
engaging bird; it sings loudly, and nearly all the year, 
though it seldom lives more than two years. 
