THE HEST OF THE WEEH. 
Tlie wren’s nest is a wonderful structure. It is oval, — of tlie 
shape and size, indeed, of an ordinary- sized lemon. Generally 
there is an incision in the side, admitting of ingress and egress; 
but it sometimes happens that a hole is made for the same pur- 
pose in the crown of the nest. Generally, the wren will lay as 
many as eight eggs, the tiniest things that can be imagined, 
with a pearl-white ground, and spotted with reddish-brown 
spots. 
More than ordinary skill and patience is requisite in wren- 
nesting. In the first place, you never know where to look ; the 
nest may be in a hole in a wall, it may be in a bush, it may 
be among the ivy that has climbed to the very summit of a tall 
tree, or it may be upon the ground. Then again, the wren never 
misses an opportunity of constructing the outside of his nest 
with materials that as nearly as possible match in colour the 
tree or wall in which he builds. 
It will frequently happen that wrens’ nests are discovered 
that exhibit no signs of having ever been inhabited ; indeed, if 
the interior of such nests are examined, the total absence of that 
snug inner coat of feathers, wool, vegetable down, &c., which, 
however rough the exterior of the nest, birds always prepare 
for the reception 'of their eggs, is at once proof that they were 
never intended by the builders to be inhabited. These nests are 
known in some parts as “ cock nests,” and there is a belief that 
during the period of incubation, the male bird, desirous of 
doing something to amuse himself, goes on constructing these 
“ carcases ” till his brood is hatched, and his services required 
in the victualling department. However this may be, it is cer- 
tain that a genuine nest is generally to be found in the vicinity 
of these fictitious ones — a fact that should be borne in mind by 
wren-nesters. 
Hestling wrens require the most tender management. They 
may be taken from the nest as soon as the tail feathers are a 
quarter of an inch long. Cover them up warm, and when you 
get them home, put them in a snug place, and every two hours 
feed them on the crumb of white bread scalded with new milk, 
and a few bruised mealworms or ants’ eggs. Be very careful 
how you feed them, as the least injury to their mouths will 
make them refuse to swallow another morsel. When they are 
fully fledged, and able to help themselves, they may be caged off 
separately ; bear in mind that a wren can escape through a 
hole through which a mouse could creep. After a while, the 
above diet may be changed, Like the nightingale, the wren 
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