332 
HOUSE WREN. 
within this is a layer of fine dried stalks of grass, and lastly 
feathers. The eggs are six or seven, and sometimes nine, of a 
red purplish flesh colour, innumerable fine grains of that tint 
being thickly sprinkled over the whole egg. They generally 
raise two broods in a season; the first about the beginning of 
June, the second in July. 
This little bird has a strong antipathy to cats; for having fre- 
quent occasion to glean among the currant bushes, and other 
shrubbery in the 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 reconnoitre, 
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 off 
for half an hour; on his return he chanted again as before, went 
to the top of the house, stable, and weeping willow, that she 
might hear him; but seeing no appeai’ance of her, he returned 
once more, visited the nest, ventured cautiously into the win- 
dow, 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 min- 
utes 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 after- 
noon of the second day, he again made his appearance, accom- 
panied 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 re- 
maining 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 
