130 
WINTER WREN. 
in Pennsylvania, at a time when I was intent on guarding myself against the 
venomous reptiles which I expected to encounter, the sweet song of this 
Wren cam suddenly on my ear, and with so cheering an effect, that I 
instantly lost all apprehension of danger, and pressed forward through the 
rank briars and stiff laurels, in pursuit of the bird, which I hoped was not 
far from its nest. But he, as if bent on puzzling me, rambled here and there 
among the thickest bushes with uncommon cunning, now sinking in one spot 
not far distant, and presently in another in a different direction. After much 
exertion and considerable fatigue, I at last saw it alight on the side of a large 
tree, close to the roots, and heard it warble a few notes, which I thought 
exceeded any it had previously uttered. Suddenly another Wren appeared 
by its side, but darted off in a moment, and the bird itself which I had 
followed disappeared. I soon reached the spot, without having for an instant 
removed my eyes from it, and observed a protuberance covered with moss 
afid lichens, resembling those excrescences which are often seen on our 
forest trees, with this difference, that the aperture was perfectly rounded, 
clean, and quite smooth. I put a finger into it, and felt the pecking of 
a bird’s bill, while a querulous cry was emitted. In a word, I had, the 
first time in my life, found the nest of our Winter Wren. Having gently 
forced the tenant from his premises, I drew out the eggs with a sort of 
scoop which I formed. I expected to find them numerous, but there were not 
more than six, and the same number I afterwards found in the only other nest 
of this species ever discovered by me. The little bird called upon its mate, 
and their united clamour induced me to determine upon leaving their 
treasures with them ; but just as I was about going off, it struck me that I 
ought to take a description of the nest, as I might not again have such an 
opportunity. I hope, reader, you will believe, that when I resolved to sacri- 
fice this nest, it was quite as much on your account as my own. Externally 
it measured seven inches in length, four and a half in breadth ; the thick- 
ness of its walls, composed of moss and lichen, was nearly two inches ; and 
thus it presented internally the appearance of a narrow bag, the wall, how- 
ever, being reduced to a few lines where it was in contact with the bark of 
the tree. The lower half of the cavity was compactly lined with the fur 
of the American Hare, and in the bottom or bed of the nest there lay over 
this about half a dozen of the large downy abdominal feathers of our Com- 
mon Grouse, Tetrao Umbellus. The eggs were of a delicate blush-colour s 
somewhat resembling the paler leaves of a partially decayed rose, and 
marked with dots of reddish-brown, more numerous towards the larger end , 
The nest which I found near the Mohawk was discovered by mere acci- 
dent. One day in the beginning of June, and about noon, feeling fatigued, 
I sat down on a rock overhanging the water, where, while resting, I might 
