456 
SKETCHES OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
access into a greenhouse containing orange-trees infested with the scaly 
coccus or aphis, here the bird has a sumptuous feast, and, at the same 
time, performs a work of great service to the gardener. 
Were it not for the wren, and other insectivorous birds, the despoilers 
of our summer fruits and flowers would, from their numbers increasing 
without a countervailing check, like the locusts in some countries, con¬ 
sume every green leaf and every embryo fruit ; so that it may fairly be 
adduced that those diminutive objects of the lower creation are an 
indispensable link in the chain of being, and as necessary in the grand 
scheme of Providence as are the larger beasts of the animal kingdom. 
Of the Gold-crested Wren (Regulus ciuricapillus ).—This is the 
smallest British bird, and, though constantly insectivorous, it does not 
frequent gardens; nor are they so numerous as the common wren, 
unless there are many fir-trees in the neighbourhood; for among firs, 
cedars, and other slender-leaved evergreen trees, the crested wren is 
mostly met with. Here they find abundant food, as flies of all descrip¬ 
tions resort to these thick trees for shelter from cold or rain. Here, 
too, this little warbler breeds, fixing its nest at the very point of a 
pendant branch or twig. In this position the nest is perfectly safe 
from squirrels, which would disturb, or birds of prey, to rob them of 
their helpless young: add to this, that the nest is of itself so small as 
scarcely to attract the notice of the keenest eye, it appearing only like 
a bit of green moss, somewhat larger than a hen’s egg, attached by 
accident to the dangling twig. 
When this bird visits gardens, he flits about among the gooseberry 
or espalier trees, picking up young spiders or other small insects. 
While so employed, he every now and then utters a short and feeble 
song, which has been aptly compared to that of a fairy. Field hedges 
he also visits for food or recreation, flitting along the leeward side, and 
alighting at intervals of a few yards, as if he were measuring by equi¬ 
distant flights its whole length—never roosting or building in hedges, 
however, unless they are of yew or holly. 
This bird is very generally distributed over the British isles, but, 
from its very small size and secluded habits, is not much noticed, 
unles the stripe of burnished gold along the head catch the eye. This 
is indeed most remarkable, as, perhaps, the feathers of no other bird 
represent the metallic lustre of gold so perfectly as it appears in this 
instance. 
Of the Earth-Worm (Lumbricus terrestris).— None of the Intesihia 
of Linnaeus are better known to the gardener than the common earth¬ 
worm. They are described as naked, simple, without limbs; segments 
one hundred; twenty-six to thirty form the belt; two spines on each 
