THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 9A3 
parents, with the remainder of the family, went in 
and out at their pleasure, and in the autumn entirely 
disappeared. 
The following summer, my young wrens sung 
delightfully ; and all their little sprightly actions 
were truly entertaining. Nor were they altogether 
useless, for they kept the room free from flies, and 
my plants clear of those little insects which so often 
devour them. It was amusing to see those little 
creatures, with their keen quick eyes, examining the 
stems and under-sides of the leaves of the rose-trees 
and geraniums ; not one insect escaped their dili- 
gence. 
In the winter, running up and down the bell-ropes 
and lines of the window-blinds seemed to afford 
them the greatest amusement ; and if they could find 
a little dust, which the carelessness of the servant 
had left on the window-frame, they were highly de- 
lighted. They repaid me for my care of them with 
their sweetest notes, during the greater part of the 
year, even in frosty weather, if the sun but shone — 
Uttering such dulcet and harmonious breath, 
That the rude cloivii grew civil at their song. 
