424 
INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 
House Wren in thus claiming the convenience and pro- 
tection of human society, that according to Wilson, an 
instance once occurred where a nest was made in the 
sleeve of a mower’s coat, which, in the month of June, 
was hung up accidentally for two or three days in a shed 
near a barn. 
The nest of this species, though less curious than that 
of some other kinds, is still constructed with considera- 
ble appearance of contrivance. The external approach 
is barricaded with a strong outwork of sticks inter- 
laced with much labor and ingenuity. When the nest 
therefore is placed beneath the eaves, or in some other 
situation contiguous to the roof of the building, the 
access to the inner fabric is so nearly closed by this 
formidable mass of twigs, that a mere portion of the 
edge is alone left open for the female, just sufficient 
for her to creep in and out. Within this judicious fort is 
placed the proper nest, of the usual hemispherical figure, 
formed of layers of dried stalks of grass and lined with 
feathers. The eggs, from 6 to 9, are of a reddish flesh- 
color, sprinkled all over with innumerable fine grains of a 
somewhat deeper tint. They generally rear two broods 
in the season ; the first take to flight about the beginning 
of June, and the second in July, or August. The young 
are early capable of providing for their own subsistence, 
and twittering forth their petulent cry of alarm. It 
is both pleasant and amusing to observe the sociability 
and activity of these recent nurslings, who seem to move 
in a body, throwing themselves into antic attitudes, 
often crowding together into the old nests of other birds, 
and for some time roosting near their former cradle, 
under the affectionate eye of their busy parents, who 
have perhaps already begun to prepare the same nest for 
a new progeny. Indeed, so prospective and busy is 
