448 
CERTHIAM. 
sent in search of food for its young, which were nearly fledged, 
the wren generally contrived to steal from it “ two or three good 
mouthfuls ” to assist in the erection of its own edifice. This 
species will sometimes, but not always, desert its nest and eggs, if 
the latter have been but once handled. The food contained in 
the stomachs of two wrens examined in January, was entirely 
insects ; in the one, consisting of minute Coleoptera only. 
Mr. R. Davis, junr., of Clonmel, communicated the following 
note in Nov., 1841 : — “ Being some years ago in want of the 
eggs of the spotted flycatcher, I had been watching a pair which 
had built in a garden near our house. The female had laid three 
eggs, and on my going two days afterwards, hoping to find the 
full number, five, my surprise may be imagined, when instead of 
them, the nest was found crammed with young wrens just able to 
fly ! they had apparently broken or thrown out all the eggs but 
one : the flycatchers were gone. I suppose the wrens, being 
1 brought out* for the first time, had taken refuge in the nest and 
expelled the rightful owners; but it was rather a curious and 
inexplicable circumstance ” 
I have often in winter seen the wren in a well-sheltered locality 
frequenting the cow-shed and farm-stable in the forenoon of frosty 
days, when there was bright and warm sunshine out of doors. It 
nightly roosted in the former, which was the warmest place that 
could be found. This bird often resorts to the green-houses and 
hot-houses in the garden of a relative, especially in winter. My 
friend Wm. Ogilby, Esq., supplies the following note on this sub- 
ject : — " These little birds associate in small families of from four 
or five to a dozen or more, and take refuge in holes, or under the 
eaves of thatched houses, during' the severity of winter nights. 
I have often, when a boy, watched the little party thus taking up 
their lodging for the night, and have on more than one occasion 
captured and drawn them from their retreat. They make a pro- 
digious chattering and bustle before finally settling for the night, 
as if contending which shall get into the warmest and most com- 
fortable place, and frequently come to the mouth of the hole to 
see that they are unobserved. I presume that these little parties 
