THE COMMON WEEN. 
697 
or dead wood, spying' out the most hidden nooks and 
corners; it is also fond of small seeds. The pair keep 
faithfully together; but occasionally this species is met 
with in small companies or bands. When the male 
sings—and that is every minute almost, though less often 
in winter than in the spring—he leaves the ground and 
perches himself on the most prominent twig of some bush. 
The strain is simple, but pleasant and very powerful; one 
would hardly credit that so clear and ringing a song could 
proceed from so tiny a throat: while singing, his move¬ 
ments are graceful and pretty in the extreme, and the 
stumpy tail is often outspread. 
Each pair breeds twice a year, and builds a splendid 
nest, which is disproportionately large. It is usually 
placed in a cavity in the ground, under some overhanging 
turf or stump of a tree, amongst roots, and in other 
similar localities.* It fills the hollow in which it is placed 
to a nicety, is domed over and provided with an entrance 
hole. The wondrous little architect mostly uses moss as 
building material, and always selects it with the greatest 
care, only using that kind which is to be found in the 
immediate vicinity of the nest. This trustful little crea¬ 
ture will even build its nest amid the bustle of human 
life. A pair of these birds has been known to build in a 
triumphal arch over a school door, in spite of the daily 
passing to and fro of the noisy tribe of children. Un¬ 
paired males have also been known to build nests and 
sing away as joyously as though they had a loving 
partner by their side ! Such “ Hermits,” as the country 
people call them, are not usually adepts in the art of 
construction; the particular male to which I now refer 
* In England this bright little bird nests in almost every out-house or summer¬ 
house which may happen to be furnished with a thatch-roof.— W. J. 
