TWENTY-SIX COMMON BIRDS. 
2 3 
sheltered a brood of Wrens. The nest is composed of moss, sticks 
and straw which completely fill the hollow and in which on a lin¬ 
ing of soft material the female lays from six to nine eggs, thickly 
marked with reddish brown. The male often builds other nests 
after the female has laid in the first, but no satisfactory explanation 
of this habit has been suggested. The pair defend their nest with 
great boldness, showing particular dislike to cats. Their note 
when excited, is a peculiar harsh chatter, but their song is voluble 
and pleasing. The sexes and young resemble each other. The 
food of the Wren consists of spiders and other insects. The Wren 
leaves New England in September for the Southern States, and re¬ 
turns in early May. 
CHICKADEE* 8* 
[PARUS ATRICAPILLUS.] 
The Chickadee is a favorite with all classes, nor is it difficult 
to understand its claim to favor. Its disposition is cheerful, cour¬ 
ageous and active, and its familiarity is greatest at the very time 
when winter has driven off nearly all bird-life. The roaming 
bands of Chickadees which frequent our orchards and yards at this 
season, may easily be induced to return at regular times to some 
tree whose situation will enable their interesting ways to be closely 
observed ; by fastening a piece of suet or a large bone to the end of 
a limb, one may have a daily exhibition of their agility and 
be cheered by their lively notes. These winter bands are prob¬ 
ably augmented in part by northern birds, for in the spring the 
numbers of this species seem to diminish. The birds now pair 
and resort to remoter orchards or woodlands, and there occupy a 
hollow stump which they line with warm materials, hair, moss 
and feathers, and on this the female lays six or more eggs. Often 
a natural cavity is used, but the birds frequently make one in a 
decaying birch stump. The eggs are white, spotted with reddish 
brown. The food of the Chickadee is made up of insects, their 
eggs and their larvae, which are gleaned from the bark and twigs, 
