HOUSE WREN. 185 
an old hat, nailed on the weather boards, with 
j^.^iRall hole for entrance ; and, if even this be denied 
(l^***! he will find some hole, corner, or crevice about 
house, barn, or stable, rather tlian abandon the 
1, ''binj^rs of man. In the mouth of June, a mower 
t), ^ up his coat, under a shed, near the l)aru ; two or 
ibiys ela|)sed before he had occasion to put it on 
1^*'’: tbrustinf>- his arm up the sleeve, lie found it 
j. I pletely filled with some rubbish, as he exiircssed it. 
He' ’ extracting the whole mass, found it to be the 
1 ^^^ of a wren completely finished, and lined with a 
(J'-' quantity of featlicrs. In his retreat, he was 
ijjJJ^'Ved by the little forlorn jiroprietors, who scolded 
^ u :*i. ychemence, for thus ruining the whole 
■ their household affairs. The twigs with 
outward jiarts of the nest are constructed 
ad crooked, tliat they may the better hook 
"I'th one anotlier, and the hole or entrance is so 
prevent the intrusion of snakes, or 
bj^’tbat it appears almost impossible tlie liody of the 
(Ifj ‘'oiild be admitted ; witliin this, is a layer ot fine 
of grass, and lastly feathers. The eggs are 
t^l seven, and sometimes nine, of a red ]mrplisli flesh 
5HjP'*''>inniimeral)le fine grains of that tint being thickly 
tiy '‘‘bled over the whole egg. They generally raise 
^(»n in a season ; the first about the beginning of 
second in July. 
•lily- ’■'* •iltle bird has a strong antipathy to cats ; for, 
frequent occasion to gleiui among t he currant 
“I'd other shrubbery in the garden, those lurk- 
bi* ®'*e«iics of the feathered race often jirove fatal to 
1 ] A box fixed up iu the window of the room where 
Was taken possession of by a pair of wrens, 
tlie nest ivas built, and two eggs laid, when 
'*(i()r'^“-V, the window being open, as well as the room 
•o f ’ '^be female n ren, venturing too far into the room 
flu ®®’^>inoitrc, was sprung upon by grimalkin, « bo had 
tOgii’^.b herself there for the purpose; and, before relief 
Siiy r be given, was destroyed. Curious to see how the 
*vor W'ould demean himself, 1 watched him carefully 
