172 
HOUSE WREN. 
garden, those lurking enemies of the feathered race often prove fatal to 
him. A box fitted up in the window of the room where I slept, was 
taken possession of by a pair of Wrens. Already the nest was built, 
and two eggs laid, when one day the window being open, as well as the 
room door, the female Wren venturing too far into the room to recon- 
noitre, was sprung upon by grimalkin, who had planted herself there for 
the purpose ; and before relief could be given was destroyed. Curious 
to see how the survivor would demean himself, I watched him carefully 
for several days. At first he sung with great vivacity for an hour or 
so, but becoming uneasy, went oft" for half an hour ; on his return lie 
chanted again as before, went to the top of the house, stable, and weep- 
ing willow, that she might hear him ; but seeing no appearance of her, 
he returned once more, visited the nest, ventured cautiously into the 
window, gazed about with suspicious looks, his voice sinking to a low 
melancholy note as he stretched his little neck about in every direction. 
Returning to the box he seemed for some minutes at a loss what to do, 
and soon after went off, as I thought, altogether, for I saw him no more 
that day. Towards the afternoon of the second day, he again made his 
appearance, accompanied with a new female, who seemed exceedingly 
timorous and shy ; and who after great hesitation entered the box ; at 
this moment the little widower, or bridegroom, seemed as if he would 
warble out his very life with ecstasy of joy. After remaining about 
half a minute in, they both flew off, but returned in a few minutes, and 
instantly began to carry out the eggs, feathers, and some of the sticks, 
supplying the place of the two latter with materials of the same sort ; 
and ultimately succeeded in raising a brood of seven young, all of which 
escaped in safety. 
The immense number of insects which this sociable little bird removes 
from the garden and fruit trees, ought to endear him to every cultivator, 
even if he had nothing else to recommend him ; but his notes, loud, 
sprightly, tremulous, and repeated every few seconds with great anima- 
tion, are extremely agreeable. In the heat of summer, families in the 
country often dine under the piazza, adjoining green canopies of man- 
tling grape vines, gourds, &c, while overhead the trilling vivacity of the 
Wren, mingled with the warbling mimicry of the Mocking-bird, and the 
distant softened sounds of numerous other songsters that we shall here- 
after introduce to the reader's acquaintance, form a soul-soothing and 
almost heavenly music, breathing peace, innocence and rural repose. 
The European, who judges of the song of this species by that of his 
own Wren (31. troglodytes), will do injustice to the former, as in strength 
of tone, and execution, it is far superior, as well as the bird is in size, 
figure and elegance of markings, to the European one. Its manners 
are also different ; its sociability greater. It is no underground inhabit- 
ant : its nest is differently constructed, the number of its eggs fewer ; 
