HOUSE WREN. 
133 
This little bird has a strong antipathy to cats ; for, having 
frequent occasion to glean among the currant bushes, and 
other shrubbery in the garden, those lurking enemies of the 
nearly alike, and the colours of the plumage are so similar, that some species 
are with difficulty distinguished from each other ; and both those now figured 
have been confounded with that of this country, from which, however, the first 
differs, and the latter is still doubtful. The colours of the plumage are brown, 
with bars and crossings of darker shades, intermingled occasionally with spots, 
and irregular blotches of yellowish white. They make very commodious 
nests, with a single entrance ; all those with which we are acquainted are very 
prolific, breed more than once in the year, and lay at a time from twelve to 
sixteen eggs ; they are always to be met with, but never in such profusion as 
their numerous broods would lead us to infer if all arrived at maturity. 
That of this country, though not so tame as to make use of a ready-made 
convenient breeding place, is extremely familiar, and will build close by a 
window, or above a door, where there is a constant thoroughfare. It roosts, 
during the night, in holes of banks, ricks, or in the eaves of thatched houses, 
and generally seven or eight individuals will occupy one hole, flitting about, 
and disputing, as it were, which should enter first. These are beautiful 
provisions for their welfare, and the proportion of animal heat possessed 
necessarily by so small a bulk. Another curious particular in the economy of 
these little birds, is the many useless nests which are built, or, as they are 
sometimes called by boys, cock nests. These are never built so carefully, or in 
such private and recluse situations, as those intended for incubation, and 
are even sometimes left in an unfinished half built state. I have never 
been able to satisfy myself whether they were the work of the male bird only, 
or of both conjointly ; or to ascertain their use, whether really commenced 
with the view of breeding in them, or for roosting places. The generally 
exposed situation in which they are placed, with the concealed spot chosen for 
those that have young, would argue against the former, and the latter would, 
perhaps, require a greater reasoning power than most people would be willing 
to grant to this animal. They may, perhaps, be the first instinctive efforts of 
the young. Notwithstanding their small bulk, and tender looking frame, they 
are very hardy, and brave the severest winters of this country ; driven 
nearer to our houses from the necessity of food, they seem to rejoice in 
a hard clear frost, singing merrily on the top of some heap of brushwood, or 
sounding, in rapid succession, their note of alarm, when disturbed by any unwel- 
come visitor. A kitty hunt, in a snow storm, used to be a favourite amusement 
with boys ; and many a tumble was got in the unseen ruggedness of the 
ground when in pursuit. At any time when annoyed, a hole, or thick heap 
of sticks, will form a refuge for this curious little bird, where it will either 
remain quiet until the danger is over, or, if there is any under way, will creep 
